Richard Hanania Links Indian-American Fortunes to Broader U.S. Battle Amid Shifting Right-Wing Stance

Prominent right-wing political commentator Richard Hanania recently addressed Indian-Americans, acknowledging a "tough day" and asserting that their "battle is now about everything good and decent in America." In a social media post, Hanania declared, "Together we will prevail. If not, America is gone. Your fortunes are now the fortunes of the country, and there is something liberating about that. 🇺🇸🇮🇳" The statement comes amid ongoing debates within conservative circles regarding immigration, particularly concerning high-skilled Indian professionals.

Hanania, known as the founder and president of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology (CSPI), has been a vocal participant in discussions surrounding immigration. He previously stated that "High-skilled Indians is the one group where racism is the only explanation for wanting to restrict numbers," highlighting a perceived internal conflict within the right-wing movement. His remarks often challenge the populist anti-immigration stance when applied to high-skilled Indian immigrants.

The commentator's tweet reflects a broader "right-wing civil war" over the role and perception of Indian immigrants in the United States, a trend observed since late 2024 and continuing into 2025. This shift has seen some conservative figures move from viewing South Asians as an affluent, hard-working minority to a group perceived as taking jobs, often fueled by online extremist factions and rhetoric. Hanania has criticized this sentiment as "structural racism of the right."

This evolving discourse has implications for both immigration policy and the Republican party's future direction. Mainstream conservative figures and politicians are increasingly influenced by online movements that reframe anti-Indian sentiment as economic populism, focusing on wages and corporate power rather than overt racial animus. Hanania's message to Indian-Americans underscores a belief that their experiences are now central to a larger ideological struggle for the nation's identity and values.