Donald Trump’s politics increasingly resemble Disneyland rides—full of drama, reversals, and dizzying speed. The only question is: is he putting roller coasters to shame? Just ask Elon Musk, who often seems trapped in the same carnival of contradictions.
In Telugu, there’s a saying: keedu chesi melu cheyyi—“doing something bad leads to something good.” There’s also its inverse: melu chesi keedu cheyi—“doing something good that ends up bad.” Trump, it seems, has perfected both.
Many Indian immigrants in the US say Trump may have stormed back to power, but he’s failing miserably at preserving the sentiment he once rode to glory—MAGA, jobs-for-Americans-only. His strategy of stoking nationalist pride isn’t unique; it’s a global trend. From Europe to Asia, governments are rediscovering the vote-bank power of inflating national sentiment.
India too has flirted with the politics of infiltration. Illegal entry from neighboring countries should be a straightforward case of border failure, yet successive governments prefer the blame game. “Whataboutery”—that modern political disease—spreads here as fast as the coronavirus.
Trump, meanwhile, lurches like a pendulum between wooing and attacking India and China. His confused signals on visas, trade, and education have thrown immigrants into limbo. Is confusion his strategy? Perhaps. But damage to the economy, employment, and credibility may prove irreversible. Even his own citizens are beginning to laugh at him, not just Democrats but Republicans, too. The question is: will his erratic policies drive talent away to other, more welcoming countries?
India may feel the heat, but it is not defenseless. With Modi’s team—Nirmala Sitharaman in Finance and Jaishankar in External Affairs—the Telugu saying may apply: a curse that brings a blessing. Indian Gen Z, known for self-respect and volatility, could well use this crisis to chart new paths at home. Those who cling to the “dollar dream” at any cost, even if it means jails or menial jobs abroad, will stay put. But if they stop counting only in dollars and cents, they may spot a silver lining in India—even at ₹88 to a dollar.
Trump has burst the American dream bubble, at least for now. For H1B seekers and visa hopefuls, it’s time for a sober comparison: is life in America—far from friends, family, and support systems—worth it? Ironically, while Indians will cross oceans for opportunity, a Hyderabadi balks at moving to Delhi. That’s the paradox of our mobility. And yet, once in the US, even die-hard traditionalists hesitate to return. That is America’s enduring magic.
Other developed regions—Europe, Australia, even the Middle East—offer more than just strong currencies. They provide rule of law, merit-based recognition, and conducive environments for families. India, by contrast, continues to survive despite governance, not because of it. The middle class gets sandwiched between the urge to flee abroad and the resignation to stay put.
In India, talent doesn’t always translate to success. Our weak legal and political systems often cancel each other out in an endless chicken-or-egg loop. Abroad, skill usually finds its reward. That is why Indians abroad thrive, while at home they often grind.
Indian immigrants in America cling to one hope: that US politics may go the “Indian way”—big talk, weak enforcement, and endless amendments to stay in power. But if Trump pushes further—say, making even Green Card holders wait behind American-born citizens for jobs—the doomsday clock will tick faster. After all, the US is a country of immigrants; denying them opportunity is denying its own foundation.
The irony? Until the 1990s, American politics was proudly American—values-driven, disciplined, and dignified. Today it looks increasingly Indianized—money, greed, and hatred replacing contentment and camaraderie. Trump didn’t create this drift, but he amplifies it with every reckless swing.
It’s time for him to shed the clown mask and return to the seriousness his predecessors brought to the White House. The US has never been at such a crossroads. The world is watching whether it chooses leadership—or another ride on Trump’s Disneyland roller coaster.
