Indian-American lawmaker blasts Trump over ‘birther’ claims against Nikki Haley

Former US President Donald Trump was criticised by Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi for promoting unfounded ‘birther’ claims against Nikki Haley, his rival in the Republican presidential primary.

Trump recently shared a post from The Gateway Pundit, a far-right website, questioning Haley’s eligibility to serve as President or Vice President based on her parents’ citizenship status at the time of her birth.

US Congressman Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat and himself an Indian American, expressed his disappointment over Trump’s actions. “As a proud Indian American immigrant, the hateful attacks the former president is launching against Nikki Haley are all too familiar to me,” he said, as per news agency PTI.

He also urged members of the South Asian community and their supporters to denounce such rhetoric.

Nikki Haley, born in South Carolina to Indian immigrant parents, is a natural-born US citizen, which qualifies her for the presidency under the US Constitution.

The allegations against Haley are reminiscent of similar statements made by Trump in the past against political adversaries such as Barack Obama and Kamala Harris.

Over ten years ago, Trump raised questions over the birthplace of former President Barack Obama. In 2016, he questioned the citizenship of Republican primary opponent Ted Cruz, particularly following Cruz’s victory in the Iowa caucuses.

In 2020, Trump similarly endorsed ‘birther’ allegations against then-vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

According to the US Constitution, the requirements for presidential candidates are: one must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for no less than 14 years.