Donald Trump’s flirtation with far-right ideologies has taken a troubling turn with his appointments of individuals with ties to Hindu nationalism. Figures like Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, and now Kash Patel are not merely symbolic choices—they represent a dangerous convergence of authoritarianism, religious extremism, and political opportunism. For Sikhs and other minority communities, these appointments are more than alarming—they signal the potential for real, material harm. 

The appointment of Kash Patel, a staunch ally of Modi’s BJP government, to head the FBI epitomizes this trend. Patel’s nomination, alongside Trump’s continued reliance on figures with deep connections to India’s ruling establishment, illustrates how Hindu nationalism is making inroads into U.S. governance. For Sikh Americans, who have long been targeted by India’s transnational repression campaigns, this development has dire implications. 

Hindu nationalism, driven by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), envisions India as a Hindu state where minorities exist only on the margins. Under Narendra Modi’s leadership, this ideology has become the political status quo, characterized by widespread repression of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Dalits. It’s not just confined to India. Through a vast global network of organizations and sympathizers, the RSS has extended its reach into diaspora communities, including the United States. 

The appointment of individuals like Kash Patel and the rise of politicians like Vivek Ramaswamy reveal how Hindu nationalism is attempting to entrench itself within American politics. Patel, for instance, has publicly supported the construction of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, a BJP-driven project rooted in the destruction of the Babri Masjid—a traumatic flashpoint of Hindu-Muslim conflict in India. His alignment with this agenda signals his ideological proximity to the Modi regime and its divisive policies. 

Ramaswamy, meanwhile, embodies a fusion of Hindu nationalism and far-right Christian nationalism. His rhetoric about preserving “American values” while subtly advancing Modi’s interests reveals a calculated blending of exclusionary ideologies. This ideological cross-pollination isn’t coincidental—it’s strategic, designed to legitimize both agendas under the guise of cultural preservation. 

This is not the first time Hindu nationalism has sought to influence global politics. Tulsi Gabbard’s meteoric rise was fueled, in part, by financial support from RSS-affiliated organizations in the U.S. Her consistent defense of Modi and the BJP, despite their appalling human rights record, showed how effectively Hindu nationalist groups could penetrate American political systems. 

As investigative reports by The Intercept and The Caravan reveal, Gabbard’s campaigns received substantial backing from pro-RSS groups, enabling her to present a sanitized version of Modi’s India to the American public. This normalization of Hindu nationalism in U.S. politics set a precedent that figures like Ramaswamy and Patel are now following. 

For Sikh Americans, Gabbard’s alliances with RSS-affiliated groups were an early warning sign. These groups have long vilified Sikh activism as “extremism,” aligning with the Modi government’s propaganda to delegitimize the Khalistan movement. Now, with Patel poised to head the FBI, the stakes have never been higher. 

The Sikh diaspora has been a primary target of India’s transnational repression campaigns. From surveillance to targeted assassinations, India’s tactics have been brazen and violent. The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which Canadian authorities have attributed to Indian state actors, underscores the lengths to which the Modi regime will go to silence dissent. 

Patel’s potential role as FBI director raises urgent questions about the safety of Sikh Americans. With someone so closely aligned with Modi’s ideology overseeing America’s premier law enforcement agency, there is a legitimate fear that the FBI could be weaponized against Sikh activists. Patel’s history of targeting political opponents, coupled with his allegiance to Trump, suggests that he would not hesitate to advance the BJP’s agenda on U.S. soil. 

This is not a hypothetical scenario. Indian consulates in the U.S. have already been implicated in surveillance and intimidation of Sikh activists. With Patel at the helm of the FBI, the lines between domestic law enforcement and foreign influence could blur dangerously. 

The infiltration of Hindu nationalist ideologies into U.S. politics is not just a Sikh issue—it’s a democratic crisis. These ideologies, rooted in exclusion and authoritarianism, undermine the pluralistic values that form the bedrock of American democracy. By aligning with far-right actors like Trump, Hindu nationalists find common cause in eroding minority rights and concentrating power in the hands of a privileged few. 

This alignment is particularly evident in Ramaswamy’s campaign rhetoric, which often echoes both Modi’s and Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. His calls to “restore American greatness” parallel Modi’s Hindutva-driven nationalism, which seeks to erase India’s secular foundations. For minority communities, this ideological fusion spells disaster, as it legitimizes exclusionary policies under the guise of cultural preservation. 

For Sikh Americans, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Trump’s appointments signal a tacit endorsement of Hindu nationalism, emboldening its proponents to target Sikh activism with impunity. Patel’s potential leadership of the FBI adds a chilling dimension to this equation, raising the specter of state-sanctioned surveillance and repression. 

But this issue transcends the Sikh community. The normalization of Hindu nationalism in U.S. politics threatens all minorities, from Muslims and Christians to Black and Indigenous communities. It reflects a broader trend of authoritarian ideologies gaining ground, eroding the democratic values that protect marginalized voices. 

The appointment of figures like Patel, Ramaswamy, and Gabbard demands a robust response from all who value justice and equality. Advocacy, coalition-building, and public education are critical to countering the rise of Hindu nationalism in the U.S. This is not just about protecting Sikh Americans—it’s about safeguarding the principles of democracy and pluralism that define the United States. 

As the U.S. confronts its own challenges with far-right extremism, the growing influence of Hindu nationalism serves as a stark reminder of how global ideologies can intersect to undermine freedoms at home. The time to act is now, before the lines between democracy and authoritarianism blur beyond recognition. 

Naunihal Singh