President Donald Trump and Prime Minster Narendra Modi at the Houston "Howdy Modi" event.
President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi held a massive rally in Houston Texas. Politico. More than 50,000 Indian Americans showed up to see the two world leaders. The event is thought to be the largest event ever held for a foreign world leader in America. Both Modi and Trump praised each other and even walked together with their hands clasped. The event shows how President Trump and the Republicans are trying to make inroads in the Indian American community, which counts 1.4 million registered voters. 80% of Indian Americans voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Trump is hoping that he can peel of some of those voters. Trump's relationship with Modi has been positive, despite kicking India out of a preferred trade partner program. However, the two leaders hope to sign a new trade agreement this week.
My Comment:
First a note on the crowd size. The media is reporting 50,000 people and that's how many tickets were given out. However, the Texans stadium seats 72,000 and it looked pretty full to me. It probably wasn't at full capacity but I do thin that it was significantly more than 50,000 people.
I think it's pretty clear that most of the Indian Americans that arrived were here for Prime Minster Modi. He's very popular in India and just won reelection. Indeed, he's pretty similar to Donald Trump as he is a populist nationalist who had a popular slogan (Make America Great Again and Make in India). Many Indians love him and it's no surprise that he got such a turnout.
It's a bit more surprising that President Trump is making a play for Indian Americans. They have been traditionally a group of Democrat loyalists. They are highly educated and occasionally face discrimination. They aren't a typical choice for targeting by the GOP.
But I think it does make sense to make a play for them. Indians are very active in business and President Trump's tax cuts have been good for them. I am guessing some of them hold resentment for illegal aliens as well as the vast majority of Indian Americans came here the legal way.
Furthermore, it's pretty clear that the Democrats aren't doing much to hold onto Indian Americans. I can't see any Democrats going to an event like this. Indeed, I kinda get the feeling that the Democrats just assume that all minorities will just stay with them forever and that they don't need to do anything to keep them.
It's clear that President Trump isn't going to rest on his laurels though. He is going after every minority group he can. And I think in 2020 he will be able to peel some of those voters away from the Democrats. Part of this is his own personal charisma. Some of it is the fact that the Democrats are taking their voters for granted. But I also think that their focus on identity politics is damaging their cause. Though President Trump often puts his foot in his mouth his vision of an united America is more appealing that the progressive stack where identity is the only important thing.
And I think that's the message President Trump sent at this event. By appearing with Modi he's telling these Indian Americans that they are accepted. He's telling these people that they belong here and that they are accepted. That's a better message than what the Democrats are giving, which is either "we will take care of you after we take care of the black Muslim transgender demisexual transracial illegal aliens" or "who are you again?"
If President Trump takes even 10% more of Indian Americans it could be very important. Though I don't think Texas is in play, Indian Americans do live in swing states. If Trump does nothing but keep his original voters and take 10% more Indian Americans, he will win for sure and probably pick up a couple of states.
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