The contribution of immigrants to America’s prosperity cannot be underestimated in any way. Without immigrants, the United States would not be what it is today.
The American author and radio host Michael Savage is not a household name in India. But he has been thrust into global attention for one reason: US President Donald Trump chose to amplify him. Trump shared a post on social media in which Savage called India and China ‘hellhole’.However, it is important to mention an incident of 2003 to understand Michael Savage’s thought process. During a show on MSNBC (Microsoft and the National Broadcasting Company), he told a caller, “You should get AIDS and die!” Following this, MSNBC dismissed him from his job. He has long been hostile towards immigrants. The message of Savage that Trump shared essentially said: A child becomes a citizen here instantly, and then brings the entire family from China, India or some other ‘hellhole’ in the world. You don’t have to look far to see this. English is no longer spoken here.
This has raised a serious question: Why did Trump share such a hateful statement? It is difficult to say, as only he knows what goes on in his mind. He may explain later why he chose to share it. However, many people are already questioning the decision, arguing that such a vile statement from someone like Michael Savage should not have been amplified. Even within the United States, the remarks have been widely criticised. Several lawmakers have called it not only inappropriate for the dignity of the office but have also openly condemned it as racist.Even those considered close allies of Donald Trump have been taken aback by this episode. In an effort to manage the situation, a spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi promptly told a news agency that President Trump has said India is a great country, where some of his very good friends hold top positions. Clearly, by ‘good friend’ he was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, people are questioning whether Trump has made any such statement after sharing the message of Michael Savage.
Naturally, the message describing India and China as ‘hellhole’ has drawn strong condemnation. The opposition parties in India are demanding that the government respond forcefully. Meanwhile, India has stated that such remarks are inappropriate and do not reflect the true nature of India-US relations, which have long been based on mutual respect and shared interests. In my view, India’s restrained response is appropriate -- why should we lose our dignity while responding to others? China, too, has taken a similar stance. The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, Yu Jin, posted on X alongside the flags of India and China, saying that viral words fade, but real partnerships endure. Bilateral relations are built on mutual respect, not rhetoric. In other words, both India and China have maintained linguistic decorum in their responses.
Now let us consider a hypothetical scenario: What if Michael Savage’s wish were actually fulfilled someday and there were no immigrants left in the United States? While such a situation is unlikely, there is no harm in imagining it. The US population is approaching around 35 crore, of which roughly 5 crore are immigrants, which means one out of every seven people is an immigrant. More than one crore are from Mexico, about 55 lakh are of Indian origin, and the number of people of Chinese origin is only slightly lower than that of Indians. If immigrants were completely removed, the US population would fall to around 30 crore. Among native Americans, the birth rate is relatively low. Estimates by the US Congressional Budget Office suggest that due to declining birth rates and an aging population, by 2040 the country could reach a point where deaths outnumber births each year. It is also estimated that if immigrants were entirely removed, per capita GDP could decline by as much as 10 per cent.
Consider a few more figures. Of the nearly 3 crore people working in the civil sector, about 19 per cent are immigrants. A significant portion of agriculture depends heavily on immigrant labour. According to the National Agricultural Workers Survey, nearly 70 per cent of farm workers are immigrants. The Silicon Valley, a source of immense pride for the United States, has flourished largely due to the talent and hard work of Indians. You would also be aware that Apple Inc., one of America’s most iconic companies, was founded by Steve Jobs, the son of a Syrian immigrant. Out of the 500 largest companies in the United States, nearly 45 per cent were founded by immigrants or their children. Around 55 per cent of startups generating over one billion dollars each in revenue were started by immigrants. And here is another inconvenient truth: Indian-origin Americans contribute between $250 billion and $300 billion in taxes annually which translates to roughly 5-6 per cent of the entire US tax base.
Therefore, when people like Michael Savage shamelessly call India ‘hellhole’, it is not unreasonable to conclude that such statements reflect a deeply flawed mindset. Individuals with such views can be found in every part of the world, and there is little point in giving importance to what they say. In fact, I have written about Savage’s ‘hellhole’ remark only because the issue has gained widespread attention. We are people with a broad and inclusive outlook. Our philosophy is rooted in the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ -- the world is one family. We do not concern ourselves with the rantings of people like Michael Savage.The author is the chairman, Editorial Board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha.