The year 2024 earned the distinction of being dubbed the “year of elections,” as over 1.5 billion people around the world participated in choosing new governments across seventy-three nations. Among these, two particularly significant elections took place in India and the United States, both of which could have far-reaching global implications.
In India, the June 2024 general election saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi secure a third term in office. While his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to achieve an outright majority in parliament, Modi’s personal popularity and political influence remained intact. Despite the initial perception of a political setback, the BJP quickly regained momentum by clinching major victories in a series of state elections held in the aftermath. Meanwhile, in the United States, the November election resulted in the re-election of Republican President Donald Trump. This outcome denied then Vice President Kamala Harris the chance to succeed Democratic President Joe Biden.
These landmark elections unfolded amid a growing U.S.-India strategic partnership—one that has shown both promise and tension. Several issues emerged ahead of the U.S. election that strained bilateral ties. Among them were policy differences concerning the Bangladesh government under Sheikh Hasina, a U.S. federal indictment involving Indian tycoon Gautam Adani on corruption charges, and the high-profile allegation that an Indian official had orchestrated a “murder-for-hire” plot aimed at assassinating a pro-Khalistan separatist, a U.S. citizen, on American soil.
These developments naturally prompted questions about the Indian American community’s outlook on foreign policy. With over 5 million people of Indian descent now living in the United States, their perspectives carry increasing weight. Key questions included: How did Indian Americans view the Biden administration’s handling of ties with India? Did they believe Trump would strengthen relations with India? And how did they assess India’s own political direction, especially following the 2024 election?
To answer these questions, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in collaboration with research firm YouGov, conducted a nationally representative online poll of 1,206 Indian American adults between September 18 and October 15, 2024. The Indian American Attitudes Survey (IAAS) carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
The survey found that Indian Americans largely approved of the Biden administration’s performance in managing U.S.-India relations over the past four years. At the same time, their expectations for the renewed Trump administration were more reserved and mixed. Regarding India, Indian Americans expressed increased confidence in the country’s direction compared to the 2020 period. A significant number voiced approval for Modi’s leadership, though some expressed unease about rising Hindu majoritarianism within India.
This survey constitutes the second installment in a three-part series exploring Indian Americans’ attitudes on social, political, and foreign policy matters, based on the 2024 IAAS. Below is a summary of the major findings from the study.
First, Indian Americans evaluated the Biden administration’s approach to India in a generally positive light. About 50 percent of those surveyed expressed approval of how the Biden White House handled relations with India. Around four in ten participants felt that the Biden administration offered an appropriately balanced level of support to India. Nonetheless, opinions varied when it came to how effectively the administration balanced American values with strategic interests.
On the other hand, the return of Donald Trump to the presidency was met with some concern among Indian Americans. Respondents rated Biden’s record on India somewhat more favorably than Trump’s first term. Additionally, many believed that the U.S.-India relationship would have fared better under a Kamala Harris administration than under a second Trump term.
Another issue explored in the survey was the “murder-for-hire” controversy, which had the potential to strain diplomatic ties. The data revealed that only about half of the respondents were even aware of the allegations involving India’s role in the attempted assassination of a U.S. citizen. A narrow majority felt that such actions could not be justified by any country, and they indicated they would feel similarly if the roles were reversed, with the U.S. targeting someone on Indian soil.
The survey also shed light on Indian Americans’ divided opinions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Rather than reflecting a unified view, respondents displayed a broad range of opinions shaped significantly by political affiliations. Democrats were generally more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, while Republicans showed greater support for Israel. Interestingly, 40 percent of all respondents believed the Biden administration had shown excessive favoritism toward Israel during the ongoing crisis.
When compared to the 2020 survey, Indian Americans in 2024 demonstrated a more optimistic perspective regarding India’s trajectory. Forty-seven percent said they believe India is heading in the right direction, which is a 10-point jump from four years earlier. The same proportion of respondents—47 percent—also voiced approval of Prime Minister Modi’s performance. In addition, four in ten respondents believed that the 2024 election had made India more democratic.
Despite Modi’s reduced parliamentary majority, the diaspora’s outlook on India’s internal affairs appears more confident than in the past. Still, concerns about religious nationalism continue to persist, suggesting that Indian Americans are watching closely as Modi enters his third term.
As for foreign relations, the community’s views reflect both satisfaction with past diplomatic management and skepticism about the road ahead. The Biden administration earned credit for its steadiness and for prioritizing India as a key global partner. However, the return of Trump brought more hesitation than enthusiasm among survey participants. Indian Americans seemed to favor continuity, with some having preferred a Harris presidency to carry forward Biden’s approach.
The 2024 elections have underscored not only the changing political landscape in two of the world’s largest democracies but also the growing significance of the Indian American community in shaping perspectives on global diplomacy. With roots in India and deep connections in the U.S., this community continues to serve as a vital bridge in navigating one of the most important bilateral relationships of the 21st century.
As this series of surveys continues, more insights are expected to emerge on the evolving political identity and influence of Indian Americans, both in domestic American politics and in matters that touch upon their ancestral homeland.