In the last days of the campaign, Donald Trump, the former president and Republican presidential candidate, sought to woo Hindu Americans as he condemned the attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh and gave an assurance he would strengthen partnership with India and "my good friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his strongly-worded post on X on Thursday on the occasion of Diwali which is widely celebrated across the US and even in the White House, Trump greeted: “Happy Diwali to All. I hope the Festival of Lights leads to the Victory of Good over Evil”!

“I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos”, he said.

He accused his Democratic Party rival Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden of ignoring the plight of Hindus around the world and promised to protect Hindu Americans. “It would have never happened on my watch”, he wrote. “Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America”.

“We will also protect Hindu Americans against the anti-religion agenda of the radical left. We will fight for your freedom”, he said.

There has been a spate of attacks on Hindu temples across the US, which have not received a strong response from the government or personal condemnation by Biden or Harris.  

“Under my administration, we will also strengthen our great partnership with India and my good friend, Prime Minister Modi”, he added. 

Now in the final days of the campaign for the presidency, he warned the Hindu Americans who run businesses of the risks from a Harris administration. “Kamala Harris will destroy your small businesses with more regulations and higher taxes. By contrast, I cut taxes, cut regulations, unleash American energy, and build the greatest economy in history”, his X post said. 

“We will do it again, bigger and better than ever before – and we will Make America Great Again”, he wrote.

Although the 2.5 million American citizens of Indian origin comprise less than 1% of the population, there is a growing emphasis on the "Hindu vote", American Hindus, who are mostly first-generation Indian immigrants,  have historically voted Democratic. However, according to RNS, a religion-specific news service, data from both the Carnegie Endowment and APIAVote  show Indian Americans’ support for Democrats has been decreasing since 2020.

Politicians are appearing more at temples and Hindu festivals more regularly and understanding what the Hindu community’s needs are, and trying to understand the "Hindu pulse” in a bid to woo the community which is growing in numbers, influence and political importance. 

October saw the launch of Hindus for America First PAC (Political Action Committee),  intended to provide a “safe space” for Hindus who no longer feel the Democratic Party has Hindu interests at heart and plan to vote for Donald Trump, Utsav Sanduja,one of its founders was quoted as saying by RNS,