When Vishnu Som of NDTV asked him, during an episode of Left, Right and Centre, about Democrats calling him ‘Trump on steroids,” Hirsh Vardhan Singh didn’t bat an eyelid, simply saying, “It’s the truth.” In fact, he seems to take pride in the Democratic salvos, wearing them on his sleeve – ‘Trump on steroids’ even features on his website. “I have been very strong on many of the policies that matter to Americans today, including medical freedom, which has come under attack since Covid-19. I’m strong against big tech censorship that has shut down all voices that don’t come from the Left. I’m also strong about ending funding for the Ukranian war. Democrats call me Trump on steroids because they’re scared of me.”
Although Harsh will take on Trump in the Republican race, he stands firmly with the former president and what he calls the “conspiracy against Trump,” where he feels that forces were aligned against the former president. Hirsh identifies himself as a “MAGA conservative,” drawing on its original connotations from the Reagan era rather than its association with Trump. For Singh, the term signifies pride in one’s homeland and a commitment to protecting its citizens. His tough stance on China and what he calls its ‘dangerous posturing’ also means a deeper alignment between India and the US, especially through bodies like QUAD.
Indians for the American Dream
The Global Indian would need a miracle to win, but this wildcard entry into the world’s most important presidential race has only served to cement the growing presence of the Indian diaspora in US politics. And his is another voice in the ever-growing Indian-American chorus that is now setting out to salvage the American dream, as they put it. In his announcement video, released on X (formerly Twitter), Hirsh said he is a “lifelong Republican” and an “America First conservative,” who worked to restore conservative wing of the Republican Party in New Jersey. “There’s an all-out attack on American family values, parental rights and the marketplace of ideas and open debates.”
It’s a theme he has held on to since 2017, when he made his first appearance in mainstream politics through a gubernatorial gamble. (Coincidentally, he is the third Indian-American to make a presidential bid and in 2017, was the third to make a gubernatorial bid, after Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley). That year, Hirsh attempted to run for Governor of New Jersey. His concerns then were the fact that New Jersey paid the highest property taxes nationwide, the lack of well-paying jobs and the improvement of K-12 education. His vision was the “Fairness formula’, strategic infrastructure development, tax cuts for small businesses and the legalisation of cannabis.
Politics in New Jersey
Hirsh is a New Jersey man, having grown up in Atlantic County, where he was born to Indian immigrant parents on March 13, 1985. He went on to earn a degree in engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. After that, Hirsh joined the family business, which specialised in missile defense, satellite navigation and aviation security. His Republican roots were present even then – in university, Hirsh joined Ron Paul’s Young Americans for Liberty.
He describes himself a ‘results-driven leader’, who leads teams within corporations to deliver cutting-edge engineering solutions and services across civilian, defense and government agencies. At the time, Hirsh was a senior director of operations at Hi-Tec Systems Inc, an aerospace, defense, transportation, homeland security and healthcare company based in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
In 2017, he gave up that lucrative career path in favour of politics and the greater good, making his gubernatorial bid with a contribution of more than $1 million made by his father, a well-known defense contractor. “I was making a lot more money in the private sector,” he said in an interview. “I was doing a very good job. The idea is to help our people and improve the state.” One year later, in 2018, Hirsh ran for US Senate and Congress, the US Senate again in 2020 and governor in 2021. So far, he has not succeeded in winning the Republican primaries.
As the global political landscape continues to evolve, figures like Hirsh Vardhan Singh offer a unique blend of cultural heritage and contemporary political perspectives. Singh’s rise in the American political arena, with a combination of strong conservative values and distinct views on international relations, embodies the diverse tapestry of voices contributing to the dialogue on the future of the U.S. and its role in the world. Whether he emerges as a frontrunner in the Presidential race or not, Singh’s journey underscores the ever-increasing prominence and influence of the Indian diaspora in American politics. As the nation gears up for another electoral showdown, it will be intriguing to see how Singh and voices like his shape the discourse in the months to come.
Follow Hirsh Vardhan Singh on X
