President Donald Trump took part in an event celebrating Diwali Tuesday at the White House alongside several administration officials. “Our nation is blessed to be home to millions of hardworking citizens of Indian and southeast Asian heritage, who enrich our country in countless ways. Together we are one proud American family,” Trump said. “I’m grateful to have numerous Americans of Indian and southeast Asian heritage who fulfill critical roles across my administration, and they’ve done an incredible job.”
Trump lit a diya during the Roosevelt Room ceremony. During the White House ceremony, Trump announced that he is nominating Neomi Rao to fill Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s seat on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. He also teased Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. Trump took part in a similar diya lighting ceremony in the Oval Office last year alongside Pai, then-US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
Donald Trump in his first tweet failed to mention Hindus, “Today, we gathered for Diwali, a holiday observed by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains throughout the United States & around the world. Hundreds of millions of people have gathered with family & friends to light the Diya and to mark the beginning of a New Year” He tweeted. In the second tweet he did mention Hindus again who celebrate Diwali majority “It was my great honor to host a celebration of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, in the Roosevelt Room at the @WhiteHouse this afternoon. Very, very special people!”