When the ‘Trump’-ets Sound: A Lesson for Indian Christians in America
Disclaimer: This is not a political post; it’s merely a post that got lost on its way to the political section. Any resemblance to actual political opinions, living or dead, is purely coincidental—unless, of course, you agree with me, in which case it was entirely intentional. Proceed with caution: side effects may include critical thinking, accidental laughter, and an inexplicable urge to argue with your cousin on Facebook.
I’ll be honest. I’m not a political commentator by any stretch of the imagination. I don’t have a newsroom, a blue-check Twitter account, or a fancy desk with one of those serious-looking coffee mugs to complete the ensemble. But every now and then, something loud and obnoxious flies by and I feel compelled to lob a rock at it. This time, I’m aiming squarely at a group in my circles that’s been making quite a racket themselves—that bewildered Christian Indian American left.
Now, let’s get one thing straight. I’m not here to unpack voter trends or crunch election data. I’ll gladly leave that to the professionals. What I am here to do is address the curious mix of shock, frustration, and incredulity coming from this group in the wake of Biden’s loss to Trump. It’s a reaction that begs for some commentary—not because it’s unexpected, but because it’s so delightfully ironic. And more importantly, because Christians ought to know better.
So many Indian Christians—mostly conservatives in their homeland—turn into liberal enthusiasts the moment they set foot in the United States. Back in India, many of these folks are the guardians of tradition, skeptical of many of the influences of progressivism. Yet in the land of the free and the home of the brave, they end up voting for policies and candidates that would make their Indian grandparents roll over in their graves. What gives?
After Trump’s recent victory, these same Christians, alongside many/some (I don’t have the statistics on that) on the American left, are bewildered. It’s not just that they’re disappointed—they’re dumbfounded. They’re sitting there, mouths agape, unable to comprehend why the man who spent four years turning Twitter into his personal soapbox just waltzed back into the Oval Office – again. The issue I’m keen to address isn’t the fact that they lost; it’s the fact that they don’t know why they lost. And I’m sitting here wondering how morally aloof must one be to misunderstand the heartbeat of an entire nation? When you lose the elections in a historical landslide where the overwhelming majority vote one way, the reasons should be obvious. But clearly, it’s not—and I believe the root issue lies in a fractured worldview. It’s a worldview where many Indian American Christians fail to see the glaring incompatibility between the conservative values rooted in their domestic traditions and the progressive ideologies they embrace in their international context. They attempt to straddle two worlds—one shaped by the moral framework of their faith and heritage, and the other by the shifting sands of Western secularism—and end up compromised in both.
Last time, when Trump lost to Joe Biden, the right claimed the election was rigged. They had their reasons and ran with them. This time, with Biden losing to Trump, the left’s response from some quarters (these quarters) seems to boil down to: “What’s wrong with you people?” Again, I’m not here to make sweeping generalisations but to address a specific group: the bewildered Indian American Christian left. To be fair, many on the left likely understand exactly why they lost. But for this particular subset, the confusion is palpable—and it’s worth unpacking. If you’ve not already seen the meltdown reaction videos from democrats who in the name of democracy are cursing the people for voting in trump democratically – don’t. It’s not worth the effort. Go plant a tree in your yard instead—after all, according to them, Trump’s about to end the world with global warming anyway.
I can already hear some of you itching to point out that I’m unfairly disparaging the left by focusing on the extremists in their camp. But I beg to differ—and I do so with confidence. After hearing the Twitter tirades, watching the interviews, catching the news segments, enduring the late-night monologues, observing Hollywood’s sermons, and, most importantly, listening to my own friends and family, it’s abundantly clear that these aren’t fringe opinions. These are the mainstream views, loudly parading themselves as the norm. And let’s be honest—they’re not just loud; they’re downright obnoxious.
The Real Divide: Policy or Morality?
The typical presidential debate revolves around policy disagreements—tax codes, military spending, healthcare reforms. These are the bread-and-butter issues of governance, the kind of topics that keep economists, think tanks, and political analysts busy. Disagreements on these matters, though often intense and passionate, tend to remain within the boundaries of what we might call “friendly or cordial”. Sure, there are jabs and quips, but they generally take place within a framework of mutual recognition: both sides understand that these debates, however heated, are part of the democratic process.
This is how a democracy works. It thrives on rulers and oppositions, checks and balances, threats and deterrents. Policies rise and fall, budgets swell or shrink, and new leaders step in to adjust the course. The system is designed to accommodate these shifts without breaking apart. Opponents may squabble, but they’re playing by the same rules, engaging in a contest of ideas, not a war over the rulebook itself. The underlying assumption is that, regardless of the differences, everyone is working within a shared understanding of the nation’s foundations.
Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. But when the disagreements cut deeper than policy—when they strike at the moral and philosophical bedrock of society—the usual democratic mechanisms begin to strain. When the argument is no longer about how to govern but about what governance even means, the cordiality starts to unravel. The debates become less about competing strategies and more about competing realities, and that’s where the cracks in the system start to show.
In recent years, the divide has been growing far deeper in America, and far more visceral. The fight no longer is really about economic strategies or infrastructure projects; it’s about moral foundations. It has become a full-blown culture war. The flashpoints of debate: abortion, same-sex marriage, transgender ideology, gender dysphoria, cancel culture, and the entirety of the woke gospel. These aren’t just policy issues—they’re cultural and spiritual battles. They don’t just threaten moral standards, they upend reality of human existence. For thousands of years, humanity has known what is normal and abnormal. And now they’ve fallen to a place they can’t tell what a woman is.
They strike at the very core of what it means to be human, to live rightly, and to govern justly. Trump didn’t win because he had a particularly innovative plan for healthcare; he won because he aligned himself with a moral framework that a significant portion of the nation still holds dear, even as the other half races to dismantle it.
The Left’s Hypocrisy: A Dictatorship of Virtue?
The left often accuses Trump of authoritarian tendencies, painting him as a dictator-in-waiting who would silence dissent and crush liberties. But let’s pause for a moment and examine who’s actually been silencing whom. The left has long leaned authoritarian when it comes to free speech, wielding cancel culture like a bludgeon to silence dissenting voices. They deplatform, defund, and delegitimize anyone who strays from their orthodoxy, all while claiming to champion diversity and inclusion. Tolerance has been redefined as ‘intolerance of Christian values’.
Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter only intensified their panic. With Musk throwing open the gates to free speech and aligning himself with Trump’s camp, the left suddenly faced a force they couldn’t easily cancel. Their fears about Trump’s alleged authoritarianism ring hollow when they’ve spent years perfecting their own brand of tyranny.
What’s particularly ironic is that Musk himself was once squarely within their camp. A self-professed Democrat who had long supported liberal causes, Musk didn’t move—he stayed right where he was. But the Overton window, the range of acceptable public discourse, shifted dramatically. The left, pulling it further and further toward radical ideologies, made what used to be moderate positions seem extreme. The result? Musk, a figure who once stood as an icon of Silicon Valley’s progressive ethos, now finds himself branded as a dangerous right-winger.
This isn’t about Musk changing; it’s about how the goalposts have been moved. What was considered common sense ten years ago—like advocating for free speech or questioning government overreach—now gets you labeled a reactionary. The left’s relentless tug on the cultural Overton window hasn’t just redefined terms; it’s redrawn battle lines, turning yesterday’s moderates into today’s extremists. Musk’s journey isn’t an anomaly; it’s a reflection of how far the ideological landscape has shifted.
If Democrats fear Trump because he might restrict freedoms, then maybe take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask who’s actually doing the restricting.
Trump: Not Just the Lesser Evil
Many Christians dismiss Trump as merely the lesser of two evils, a stopgap against the rising tide of progressivism. But this view is far too simplistic. Trump isn’t a pastor, and he’s certainly not a saint, but he’s also not a politician in the traditional sense. He’s a businessman, and businessmen understand contracts. When Trump aligns himself with Christian values—defending the unborn, upholding religious freedoms, opposing the LGBTQ+ agenda—he’s making a contract with his base. And unlike many career politicians, he tends to keep his promises.
This is why his administration is more than just “less evil” than a hypothetical Kamala Harris presidency. It’s actively righteous in key areas. Trump’s decisions on the Supreme Court, his stance on abortion, and his pushback against woke insanity reflect a commitment to biblical principles, even if the man himself doesn’t always embody them. He’s not pretending to be a theologian; he’s fulfilling his role as a leader who respects the moral fabric that underpins a just society.
And here’s the key, because Trump isn’t bound by the usual political games, he’s willing to do what many “Christian” politicians won’t—stand firm. He doesn’t waver, doesn’t apologize for his convictions, and doesn’t back down when the mob comes for him. When shot at, he ducks, get’s back up and shouts, “Fight, fight, fight!”. In a world of spineless leaders, that kind of resolve is worth its weight in gold.
Lessons for Christians
As Christians, we need to take a step back and evaluate this moment in history through the lens of Scripture. Trump’s victory, for all its controversy, is a blessing—a window of opportunity to push back against the tide of moral relativism and reclaim ground for biblical truth. But to do that, we need to know where we stand.
Too many Christians are caught up in the noise, swayed by cultural trends and political narratives instead of grounding themselves in God’s Word. We need to remember that our allegiance isn’t to a political party or a particular leader; it’s to Christ and His kingdom. But that allegiance doesn’t mean retreating from the public square; it means engaging with it boldly, wisely, and faithfully.
Trump’s re-election isn’t just about politics—it’s about culture, morality, and the battle for the soul of a nation. And while he’s not a perfect leader, he’s a leader willing to fight for the principles that matter. For that, we should be grateful. May the next four years prove to the world that standing on biblical truth isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the winning strategy.
God bless Trump. God bless America. And may God bless every Christian striving to discern the times and live faithfully in the midst of them.