Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. October 9, 2024. / REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo

During the first Trump administration, I had the utmost honor of serving at the highest levels of our country’s government, including as chief of staff for the Department of Defense. On so many critical matters involving national security – most of which I am not even at liberty to discuss publicly – I was in the room helping make and execute life-or-death decisions for the safety of our country, our citizens, and the world at large.

It’s not the standard career route that many Indian American kids end up taking. Very often, I was the only person in the room who looked as I do and who had a distinctly Indian name like “Patel.” 

But none of that ever mattered under President Donald J. Trump. My name, my identity, my background, my skin and looks were all irrelevant. What mattered was my merit – the soundness of my arguments and my ability to competently execute the tasks in front of me. That was what President Trump demanded of us: maximum effort and maximum results for the American people. Simply America First, always.

My roles in the Trump administration had nothing to do with how unique my name and background are in the political and national security landscape. The president often directly solicited my advice and delegated national security work to me solely on the basis of my capabilities to do the job.

And that was the beauty of the Trump administration. President Trump was the first results-oriented president in my lifetime, and during the four years of his presidency, the American people enjoyed historic prosperity, low taxes, low inflation, stability, and safety at home and abroad. Our borders were secure, world wars were at an end, and global terrorists were dead.

Looking ahead to the most important presidential election of our lifetime, the only candidate in this race who can deliver the America we want for ourselves and our children is President Trump. I don’t have to bore you with stories you’re all too familiar with about how our parents expected – demanded – the utmost best of us at school and at work. It’s the same set of values we’ve passed onto our kids, to achieve the American Dream of prosperity by putting in the hard work.

On nearly every issue of importance to Americans broadly and Indian Americans specifically, it’s President Trump who’s on the right side of history. We all want the best education possible for our children, an education system built on the foundation of serious intellectual inquiry and merit – and not our current social justice, DEI-obsessed education system that punishes hardworking students. That’s why the Trump administration supported legal challenges to affirmative action policies that primarily penalize Asian and Indian American students, to ensure merit reigns supreme.

Under President Trump’s leadership, America will once again be a place where families can afford to live and thrive. His record has proven he's successful at strengthening the economy by slashing regulations and cutting taxes, finally giving hardworking Americans the financial break they deserve. By leveraging the unparalleled power of the United States, President Trump will negotiate trade deals that benefit American workers and businesses, creating jobs and lowering prices on everyday goods. 

Unlike Kamala Harris, President Trump will empower law enforcement and keep dangerous criminals off of our streets. Crime will plummet as President Trump’s policies restore law and order, ensuring the safety of our communities. His immigration policies will go even further—securing the border through mass deportations of illegal criminals, human traffickers, and narco traffickers. I am eager for the day when tens of thousands of criminals will be removed from our country and our Border Patrol is empowered to prevent enormous amounts of drugs from flooding our streets and endangering our children.

I'm excited for President Trump’s return to leadership and confident that my family and community will be better off under his guidance. He is the only one who is able to reverse the damage done by Kamala Harris and bring America back from the brink. With President Trump back in the White House, the American Dream will be within reach for every American citizen once more.

 

The author currently serves as Senior Advisor for National Security, Defense, and Intelligence to President Trump. 

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)