Donald Trump: the master of shock politics is not something new in today’s political scenario.

In his latest decision, the former President and current 2024 Republican frontrunner has hired entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy is an Indian-American conservative who has recently become somewhat notorious for his aggressive opinions on the topics of free speech, capitalism, and the United States culture.

It has started discussions on all these fronts—on US-India relations, diversity in politics, and astute political moves in the selection that could serve Trump’s political agenda. Is Trump trying to lock in his base here while also adding new groups into the mix—or is this simply an attempt to leverage Ramaswamy’s rising popularity?

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?

If the readers are yet to acquire familiarity with him, Vivek Ramaswamy is not your ordinary employee hire. He is a Harvard- and Yale-educated biotech entrepreneur, which also might explain how a book published last April titled Woke, Inc. In it, he lambasts the ‘woke’ capitalist culture in the United States as a cover for much corporate greed.

Trump’s campaign includes many oppositional actions towards the establishment: Ramaswamy challenged the ideas of ESG (environmental, social, and governance investing) and corporate excess. Schlapp’s humour and facility with language have made him a darling of conservative media, known as the voice for the younger generation of Republicans.

Ramaswamy being nominated by Trump is not an accidental appointment. First, it intensifies Trump’s outreach to the Indian-American vote, which is one of the most rapidly growing and politically potent minorities in the United States. Though Indian Americans have been the demographic largely supporting the Democratic party, this new values-realignment with the American mainstream, such as a hardliner nationalism, capitalism, and the police force, is slowly changing this divide.

The presence of Ramaswamy can also imply signifying to the international stage, more so to India. This kind of relationship has started developing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Trump has always been on good terms with Modi. Hiring someone like Ramaswamy—an Indian-American—to his team solidifies this kind of message that Trump appreciates this strategic partnership.

Consequence of the Relationship Between the USA and India

India has a complex, growing relationship with the U.S., especially in the defence, trade, and technology sectors. This bond is therefore symbolically enhanced by having someone of Indian origin within the inner sanctum of Trump’s administration.

For India, it presents opportunities to increase cooperation in sectors such as the sharing of technology, terrorism, trade, etc. Finally, it shows how America welcomes everyone to work with them, which is the direct opposite of what Trump has been saying.

It also comes at a time when India is aspiring to emerge as a global leader in every front possible. In the age of China and the evolution of geopolitics, India has turned out to be the golden boy for the U.S. However, Ramaswamy’s post could help synchronise these two large democracies on different fronts—be it against China, a push for innovation, a free-market economy, or open access.

Representation Matters

Extrapolating the geospatial scaffolding, Ramaswamy’s appointment is another moment in the ventriloquizing of Indians into the political ambit of the United States. Imitating Kamala Harris and Nikki Haley, Ramaswamy is the beneficial evidence of the fact that pretty much the Indian diaspora determines the policy of America now.

In including Ramaswamy, however, Trump seems to be making a calculated effort to pay heed to this specific constituency. It’s not just about appearing race-conscious; it is about harnessing the brains and wallets of the Indian-American population.

Ramaswamy’s Role: More Than a Symbol

Ramaswamy is not an empty totem and a mere decoration of the corporate board. He comes in handy to the Trump team with knowledge in biotech, business, and especially the culture wars. He will be involved in policies about innovation and free-market economics and the perceived excesses of ‘wokeness’.

His fidelity to Trump’s America First policy also means that he will help define policies that address American concerns in every sphere, be it trade or immigration.

This means a lot about Trump’s 2024 campaign.

That’s why Trump decided to invite Ramaswamy to join him, as this step defines his desire to expand his electorate by including more people of colour without changing his position. Thus, by teaming up with a young, eloquent, and provocative commentator like Ramaswamy, Trump is responding to voters who do not trace their political affiliation, have lost faith in the political process, and are under-represented among those aged below 30.

According to his detractors, this action would be interpreted as another trick to shift concerns away from racism accusations. But for his supporters, it’s all a well-planned and reasoned decision so that his campaign was not only viable but also prospective.

Final Thoughts

Vivek Ramaswamy as a board member of the beleaguered company is less of a headline and more of a statement made by Donald Trump. It is what the Trump campaign wants society to know—that Trump is open to different ideas but also resolute in the fundamentals.

For Ramaswamy, this is an opportunity to approach a campaign that revels in disruption with new strategies. For Trump, it is a risky business that could bring very high dividends in terms of both electoral support at home and foreign policy on the global scene.

Whether you agree with Trump or not, one thing is clear: this move has created interesting tactics to the extent of giving the campaign an unanticipated performance. But for the U.S.-India relationship, this appointment could well be the first step towards a qualitatively superior and symbiotic relationship.