President Trump’s senior trade adviser, Peter Navarro, faced backlash from Hindu American groups after using the term “Brahmins” to criticize India’s elite during a Fox News interview.
Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser to President Donald Trump, has ignited controversy and accusations of Hinduphobia following his use of the term “Brahmins” to describe India’s elite. This comment was made during a Fox News segment on August 31, where Navarro criticized India’s trade policies in light of the administration’s announcement of a new 50% tariff on Indian goods.
In his remarks, Navarro stated, “You have got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people, and we want that to stop.” He further labeled New Delhi as “nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin,” which added fuel to the fire of criticism directed at him.
The term “Brahmin” refers to the highest caste in the traditional Hindu social hierarchy, and its use in this context has drawn ire from the Hindu diaspora and communities in India. Many took to social media to express their outrage, with memes circulating that mocked Navarro’s apparent misunderstanding of Indian caste dynamics. This backlash prompted Hindu American organizations to call for Navarro’s immediate removal from his position.
Ajay Shah, the executive chair of the lobbying organization HinduPACT, condemned Navarro’s comments as “weaponized Hinduphobia.” He stated, “Dividing Hindus through colonial scripts doesn’t build relationships. It destroys them. People like Navarro have no place in American political life.”
Navarro’s comments coincided with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s significant visit to China, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The timing of the tariff announcement, which India has criticized as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” has heightened tensions between the two nations.
American Hindus Against Defamation, a branch of HinduPACT, echoed the call for Navarro’s dismissal, labeling his remarks as a “reckless provocation” that threatens the dignity of over a billion Hindus worldwide. Their statement emphasized that using caste rhetoric to pressure a democratic ally is beneath the democratic dignity of the United States.
In Hindu tradition, Brahmins are associated with priestly and scholarly roles, historically responsible for conducting rituals and preserving sacred texts. Today, they make up approximately 4% to 5% of India’s population. The caste system, which is a birth-based social hierarchy, has been a topic of significant debate and contention, especially among the Indian diaspora in the United States.
In response to Navarro’s comments, Indian industrial CEO Harsh Goenka took to social media to clarify misconceptions about the Indian elite. He pointed out that many of India’s top business leaders, including those from major corporations like Tata and Reliance, do not belong to the Brahmin caste. Goenka stated, “But India’s soldiers, scientists, poets? Many were … Unlike some others who are trying to lobby for the Nobel prize, our Brahmins got their prize only through merit.”
Priyanka Chaturvedi, a member of India’s Shiv Sena political party, also criticized Navarro’s remarks on social media, describing them as “shameful and sinister.” She urged him to refrain from making comments that invoke caste identity to make political points.
In the United States, the term “Brahmin” has historically been used in different contexts. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, “Boston Brahmins” referred to an elite class of wealthy, white Protestant families who held significant cultural and political influence in New England.
Debates surrounding caste in modern America have been complex. Some argue that the focus on condemning caste has led to what they call “Hinduphobia,” suggesting that caste distinctions were exaggerated by colonial powers to divide Indians. Others maintain that casteism persists in various forms within American society, affecting opportunities and access for Indian Americans.
Research indicates that a significant majority of Indian immigrants to the U.S. belong to higher castes, with one study estimating that 90% of Indian Americans fall into this category. Prominent figures such as Sundar Pichai and Indra Nooyi, both CEOs, are part of the Tamil Brahmin community. Additionally, former Vice President Kamala Harris’s mother was also a member of this group.
A 2024 study by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace revealed that 32% of Indian American respondents did not identify with any caste, while 46% identified as “general or upper caste.” The study also found overwhelming support among Indian Americans for measures to formally outlaw caste discrimination.
Despite these statistics, advocates like Deepa Karthik, general secretary of HinduPACT, argue that caste rhetoric remains prevalent in America, particularly from those outside the community. “When someone like Navarro uses caste to shame India, it lands on Hindus here,” Karthik stated. “Kids get bullied. Workers get profiled. We get treated like we owe the world an apology for our heritage.”
This incident underscores the complexities surrounding discussions of caste and identity, particularly in the context of U.S.-India relations and the broader implications for the Hindu community in America.
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