Kamala Harris's Dream of Becoming the First Female U.S. President Shattered

In the recent U.S. presidential election, Kamala Harris, of Indian descent, saw her dream of becoming the first female president of the world's most powerful nation come to an end. This defeat also brought to light the underlying attitudes of the American electorate towards female leadership, especially in a country that claims to be the most developed in the world. In a similar vein, Hillary Clinton had also failed to secure the presidency in a previous election.

Leading up to this election, there was widespread global discussion about the potential for Kamala Harris to make history. Many viewed the race as one of the toughest in U.S. history, with no clear predictions about the outcome. However, it was Donald Trump, who gained an early advantage during his first debate with President Biden, and maintained that momentum until the results were finalized. This lead forced Joe Biden to reconsider his candidacy, which led to Kamala Harris being elevated as his running mate. Initially, there was a lot of excitement in the Indian community, as 51% of Indian Americans traditionally support the Democratic Party. Media reports even suggested that Kamala Harris had earned the support of some hardcore Republican-leaning Indian Americans, making the contest appear closely contested. But in the end, Trump’s strategy and policies turned the tide in his favor, successfully appealing to his base, Democratic voters, and swing-state voters.

One key factor in Trump's victory was his pro-India stance and his promise to work towards peace in regions like Israel-Palestine and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It is also believed that Trump turned the tables by using the same tactics as Modi, leveraging accusations from his opponents to his advantage during the election campaign.

The chants of "Modi, Modi" during Trump’s victory speech were a clear indication of the strong support he received from the Indian diaspora, who rallied behind him due to his close relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was reminiscent of the "Howdy Modi" and "Namaste Trump" rallies, where Modi had campaigned for Trump’s victory. After his win, Modi congratulated Trump, stating that the two nations would work together for global peace, strengthen India-U.S. relations, and promote stability and prosperity.

In his victory speech, Trump declared that this was an unprecedented political win for America, and he would fight for the future of the American people with every breath in his body, promising to build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous America. He also expressed gratitude for the support from swing states, emphasizing that no one expected such a decisive victory.

Elon Musk, too, celebrated Trump’s growing lead in the election, posting on X that Americans had given Trump a clear mandate for change. Musk highlighted that America would soon return to its roots as a nation of builders, emphasizing freedom and the opportunity for growth.

Trump’s victory was confirmed when he secured 277 electoral votes, while Kamala Harris received only 226. The victory came from 17 states, including Wyoming, West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Nebraska, North Dakota, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama. However, Kamala Harris did make history by winning Delaware, Trump’s home state.

Kamala Harris also triumphed in New York, Colorado, Maryland, Illinois, and a few other states, securing nine states in total, including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Despite early results showing Trump with 195 electoral votes and Harris with 113, Trump maintained a 7% lead, winning major states like Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Kansas.

The eyes of the world were on Indian-American voters in the U.S., particularly because of Kamala Harris's Indian roots. It was expected that she would receive strong support from the Indian community, but the reality turned out differently. A significant portion of younger Indian-Americans openly supported Trump, believing that his presidency would strengthen U.S.-India relations. They also felt that Modi’s slogan “Abki Baar Trump Sarkar” (This time, Trump’s government) had become a reality. Trump's closeness to Modi and his promises to improve India-U.S. relations were key factors in attracting Indian-American support. Additionally, Trump’s emphasis on economic opportunities, stability, and traditional values appealed to many in the community.

Indian-Americans make up about 1.5% of the total U.S. electorate, but their influence is far greater, especially in key swing states. Traditionally loyal to the Democratic Party, a large portion of Indian-American voters shifted their allegiance to Trump this time. This shift was a surprising turn in U.S. politics. Prime Minister Modi had campaigned for Trump in the 2020 election, but it was this election that saw the Indian-American community decisively back him. The second generation of Indian-Americans, in particular, was focused on prosperity and saw Trump as the more capable leader compared to Kamala Harris. Trump's campaign actively reached out to young Indian-American men, understanding that they were a critical demographic.

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris was often associated more with the African-American community, and during the election, Trump made sure to highlight his admiration for Prime Minister Modi and his condemnation of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. He also referenced his "Howdy Modi" rally to reassure the Indian community of his support.

In conclusion, the perception that Kamala Harris was disconnected from the Indian community, coupled with the opportunities promised by the Trump administration, led many Indian-American voters to support Trump. The evolving friendship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has captured global attention, and it will be interesting to see how it impacts the future of India-U.S. relations and global politics as a whole.