Mumbai-born Author Salman Rushdie Endorses Kamala Harris for US Presidency

Mumbai-born author Salman Rushdie has publicly endorsed Kamala Harris’s candidacy for the US presidency, expressing his belief that she is the key to preventing former President Donald Trump from leading the country towards authoritarianism.

Rushdie made his endorsement during a virtual event hosted by ‘South Asian Men for Harris,’ which featured a host of prominent figures from the Indian-American community, including lawmakers, authors, policy experts, and entrepreneurs. The event was notable for its large turnout and enthusiastic support for Harris.

“It’s a critical moment. I’m a boy from Bombay, and it’s great to see an Indian woman running for the White House. And my wife is African-American, so we appreciate that a Black and Indian woman is in the race,” Rushdie said during the event.

Harris, who is 59, is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race on July 20. She is expected to be officially confirmed as the candidate by the Democratic Party next month.

Rushdie, a 77-year-old British-American novelist, acknowledged that while ethnicity alone is not enough to secure a victory, Harris’s candidacy represents something transformative and optimistic in American politics. He expressed his belief that Harris’s presence has significantly shifted the political conversation in a positive direction.

Rushdie sharply criticized Trump, referring to him as a “hollow man” attempting to drag the country towards authoritarianism. He emphasized that Harris is the candidate who can counter this threat. “I’m 1,000 percent in for her,” Rushdie declared.

He also commented on the significance of charisma in American politics, noting that while Trump’s celebrity status helped him win the White House in 2016, Harris’s charisma could prove crucial in the upcoming election. “Kamala looks like the superstar. And I think the charisma she brings to the campaign could be critical in the weeks ahead,” he said.

Addressing concerns about the electability of a woman with Black and Indian heritage, Rushdie expressed confidence that times have changed. “The way in which women’s leadership is viewed now is different,” he said. He pointed to recent polls showing Harris neck and neck with Trump as evidence of a positive shift.

Rushdie urged the community to mobilize and support Harris, emphasizing the importance of voter turnout in the upcoming November 5 presidential election. “There’s not a minute to lose,” he warned, encouraging people to use their voices and efforts to ensure a victory for Harris.

The event, co-hosted by Sree Sreenivasan, CEO and Co-founder of Digimentors, featured notable figures including Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, co-founder of South Asians for Harris Harini Krishnan, and Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija. Together, they rallied support for Harris, emphasizing the power of collective action and the importance of voting in large numbers.

Rushdie concluded his speech with a call to action: “We cannot be complacent. We have to fight this down to the wire because it’s probably going to go down to the wire. But I believe we can be the first past the post.”