India has found itself at the heart of a growing divide within the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, which has recently been rocked by a civil war between two factions. The country, long viewed as a model for economic migration and technological advancement, is now a source of deep contention for supporters of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, highlighting the broader cultural and ideological conflicts within the movement.
A Divided MAGA: Economic Optimism vs. White Nationalism
On one side of the MAGA divide are those who advocate for an America-first economic agenda that embraces immigration, particularly from countries like India. They argue that attracting the world’s top talent—including highly skilled Indian immigrants—is key to restoring American greatness. This faction believes that talent from abroad, especially in fields like technology, will help drive American business and innovation.
Indian immigrants have long been a driving force in the U.S. economy. According to the latest statistics, over 72% of Indian immigrants are university graduates, and Indians have been behind a significant portion of Silicon Valley startups and tech giants, including Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, and IBM. As a result, this economic-first faction was enthusiastic about Trump’s appointments of Indian-Americans to high-ranking positions in his administration, such as Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health and Kashyap Patel at the FBI.
The Backlash: A White-Nationalist Resistance
However, the MAGA movement’s white-nationalist wing vehemently opposes such appointments, seeing them as a threat to American identity. The nomination of Sriram Krishnan, a Chennai-born venture capitalist, to a senior policy role on artificial intelligence was a tipping point for many within this faction. As one critic wrote on social media: “Did any of yall vote for this Indian to run America?”
For these hardliners, the issue is not just about immigration—it’s about preserving an America that they believe should be ethnically and culturally homogenous. The nomination of Indian-Americans, who come from a country with a starkly different demographic makeup, is seen as a direct challenge to their vision of American identity.
This deepening conflict became even more apparent when Krishnan, who had been hired by Elon Musk to oversee Twitter (now X), suggested that the U.S. should remove caps on green cards for skilled immigrants. While the proposal would allow for more talented individuals from countries like India to enter the U.S., it triggered an immediate backlash from MAGA’s far-right wing.
Immigration and the Future of America
The debate over immigration from India reveals the broader tensions within the MAGA movement, between economic pragmatism and cultural conservatism. While figures like David Sacks, nominated by Trump for a key role in AI and cryptocurrency policy, argue that immigration from India is vital for the future of America, others like activist Laura Loomer vehemently disagree. Loomer, in a passionate social media post, questioned how America could “control immigration” while allowing more skilled workers from countries like India to take jobs from Americans.
This fear of competition for jobs—especially as technology and automation continue to reshape the workforce—is not unique to right-wing circles. The rise of AI has stoked anxieties about job displacement across all sectors, particularly in industries traditionally dominated by American workers.
However, the MAGA movement’s struggle with Indian immigration is not only about job competition. Racism and fears of cultural dilution also play a significant role. As illustrated by the online harassment faced by Indian-American politicians like Ro Khanna and Shri Thanedar, there is a vocal segment within the far-right that views Indian immigrants as unwelcome “foreigners” who undermine the country’s Christian, European roots.
A New Vision: MAIGA – Make America and India Great Again
Amid the polarization, there may be a middle ground that satisfies both sides of the MAGA divide. Rather than welcoming large-scale immigration, the U.S. could seek to outsource innovation to India. By investing in Indian firms capable of driving cutting-edge research and development, America could benefit from the expertise and talent that India has to offer without the need for further immigration.
This model, dubbed “MAIGA”—Make America and India Great Again—would allow the U.S. to capitalize on India’s economic dynamism while preserving its cultural integrity, thus addressing the concerns of both the pro-immigration economic optimists and the anti-immigration nationalists within MAGA.
As the divide within the MAGA movement continues to deepen, the question of how India fits into America’s future remains unresolved. However, it is clear that the country is now a pivotal flashpoint in a broader ideological struggle that could shape the course of American politics for years to come.
