Trump celebrates Diwali at White House with Indian diaspora members
US President Donald Trump participated in a diya-lighting ceremony and received a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa as a gift.
US President Donald Trump marked Diwali on Friday by hosting a gathering of Indian-American community representatives and business leaders at the White House. During the event in the Oval Office, Trump participated in a ceremonial diya-lighting alongside prominent members of the Indian diaspora.
According to reports from Times of India, News18, and Firstpost, entrepreneur Vishal Gondal, the founder of GOQii, presented the US President with a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa. Gondal, who shared details of the meeting on X, described the hymn as a text recited by millions for devotion and strength.
The gathering included India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and several high-profile figures such as IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna. Other attendees included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, and Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration Arjun Mody.
Gondal stated that his prayer during the ceremony was for the triumph of light over darkness and for stronger ties between India and the United States. He also shared the traditional blessing 'Jug Jug Jiyo', which means 'may you live for ages'.
The tradition of White House Diwali celebrations began in 2003 under George W Bush. In 2009, Barack Obama became the first president to light a diya during a ceremony in the East Room.
