Chicago, USA: Neera Tanden, the Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council, has openly criticized far-right Republicans aligned with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement for their exclusionary stance toward Indian Americans.

Tanden’s comments shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), came in response to a heated debate sparked by the appointment of Sriram Krishnan, a Chennai-born engineer, as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence by President-elect Donald Trump.

In her post, Tanden wrote, “As an Indian American born in the U.S., it’s abundantly clear that the Democratic Party considers me fully American, whereas a significant segment of the Republican Party does not. I urge Indian Americans to remember this during the next election. They don’t see you as part of their vision of America and never will.”

She added, “You may have thought their disdain was directed solely at other immigrant groups. But clearly, there’s no exception for you. Many of us have been pointing this out for a long time.”

The controversy arose after MAGA-aligned activists like Laura Loomer criticized Krishnan’s appointment. Krishnan, an advocate for immigration reform, has supported eliminating country-specific caps on green cards to promote skilled immigration in the U.S. Critics targeted his heritage and accused Indian professionals of taking American jobs, launching a series of racially charged attacks.

However, not all MAGA supporters share this sentiment. Tech leaders, including Elon Musk, defended Krishnan’s stance, emphasizing that skilled immigration is essential for fostering innovation and keeping the U.S. competitive globally. This division highlights the growing rift within the Republican Party between its nationalist wing and pro-business supporters.