It’s perplexing that the immigrants President Trump appoints are often more right-wing and anti-democratic than his native-born associates. Take Kash Patel, his nominee for FBI Director—a brown-skinned Indian who parrots white conservative rhetoric, staunchly maintains the 2020 election was stolen, and seems intent on dismantling the FBI, potentially jeopardizing both himself and Trump.
Many of these recent Trump-aligned immigrants, like Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, or descendants of immigrants, such as Stephen Miller, appear to have fled oppressive regimes or discriminatory systems in their homelands. Yet, upon establishing themselves in America, they adopt ultra-conservative stances, seemingly to outdo the country’s white establishment. They conveniently overlook the racism they faced growing up and, once successful, direct their disdain toward vulnerable groups, forgetting their own backgrounds.
Elon Musk, a white South African who left his country post-apartheid, exemplifies this trend. Now, he’s part of an administration threatening long-established agencies that uphold American democracy. It’s worth reminding Trump and his immigrant henchmen that agencies like the FBI have a history of neutralizing perceived threats to the nation. Their actions could be seen as treasonous, potentially placing them on the wrong side of history, much like Dr. King, Malcolm X, and the Kennedys.
The entrenched forces within the FBI and CIA are unlikely to idly watch as individuals with minimal governance experience attempt to impose their utopian visions on the United States. Plans to address these men are likely already underway.
