Howdy Modi

President Trump’s attendance at the Howdy Modi rally with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston, TX in front of 50,000 roaring Indian-Americans has amazed the political intelligentsia. Modi introduced Trump indicating that it was “his honor and privilege” to welcome him and called him “his friend” and talked about “making America great again.” Modi emphasized that India and America are the two largest democracies in the world. Indian-American voters have historically tended to vote overwhelmingly Democratic but the rally signaled that a seismic change may be in the offering. In 2016, Trump flipped the blue-collar white working class voter, the first Republican to do so since Ronald Reagan. Now, he is making a play for Asian American voters. Can he flip Indian-American voters? Chinese-American voters? Korean-American voters? It’s too early to tell, but the thought is certainly worrisome for Democratic strategists. Who would have thought that Trump would receive such an overwhelmingly positive reception from 50,000 Americans holding Indian flags? Trump’s platform of lower taxes and less regulation may appeal to many Asian-Americans who are likely not aligned with the more progressive agenda advocated by Democrats like Sanders and Warren. That said, one rally does not necessarily translate into a realignment. Still, the Asian-American vote bears watching in 2020 and is a reminder that at his core Trump is an unpredictable politician. Trump’s team certainly senses an opening and we would be mistaken to underestimate his political instincts.