A recent survey has revealed that Indian Americans largely favor President Joe Biden’s handling of US-India relations over President Donald Trump’s first term, though concerns persist about the potential impact of a second Donald Trump presidency. Conducted in October 2024 by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and YouGov, the study examined the political attitudes of Indian Americans, providing insights into their views on US-India relations and India’s trajectory after its 2024 elections.
With over five million Indian-origin residents in the United States, the survey aimed to assess their perspectives on key political figures and policy approaches. It sought to answer whether Indian Americans believed Joe Biden had managed relations with India effectively, whether they saw Donald Trump as a preferable alternative, and how they perceived India’s future. The findings were derived from a nationally representative online survey of 1,206 Indian-American adults.
The results indicated that political affiliation played a significant role in shaping views on US-India relations. A majority of Indian-American Democrats—50 percent—approved of Joe Biden’s approach, whereas only 15 percent of Republican Indian Americans shared this sentiment. Conversely, 66 percent of Indian-American Republicans believed Donald Trump would be better for US-India relations, a view held by only 8 percent of Democrats. Overall, Joe Biden held an edge in perception due to the majority of Indian Americans aligning with the Democratic Party.
The survey also examined the potential impact of a Kamala Harris presidency, with respondents indicating that a hypothetical Harris administration would be more beneficial for US-India relations than a second Donald Trump term. Despite Donald Trump’s past public displays of camaraderie with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including their joint appearance at the ‘Howdy, Narendra Modi!’ event, experts cautioned against assuming broad Indian-American support for Donald Trump. Milan Vaishnav, co-author of the study, emphasized that while over 50,000 Indian Americans attended the event, their primary interest was in Narendra Modi rather than Donald Trump. He noted that Donald Trump was a late addition to the event, and participation should not be misinterpreted as a strong endorsement of his policies.
While Indian Americans continue to express strong support for Narendra Modi’s leadership in India, their preference for Joe Biden or Harris in the United States underscores a nuanced political alignment. The findings highlight the complexity of Indian-American political preferences, shaped by both domestic considerations and the broader landscape of US-India diplomatic relations.
