Comedian Nimesh Patel swung by Comedy Central and The Daily Show on Tuesday to muse about Indian-Americans who support President Trump. Patel would ridicule former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and unrelated FBI Director Kash Patel, but he would direct his most venomous rhetoric towards the Vance family as he claimed to hope that Second Lady Usha Vance has Stockholm Syndrome because that is the only possible explanation for her marriage with JD.
Host Ronny Chieng wondered, “So what is going on with Indians and MAGA?... I mean, there is something interesting—”
Patel began his response by proclaiming, “Well, yeah, look, that’s Trump's DEI: Indian people… there are so many Indians that love Donald Trump. Like, Vivek Ramaswamy.”
He then recalled how “He ran for president, and his main thing—his opening line was ‘God is real.’ Why did He make you 5'7", Vivek? I don't know if he is 5'7", but he has 5'7" energy, and then I will not say his name again because if you say it more than three times, he pops up behind you.”
Moving on, Patel declaring, “And there’s Usha Vance, who I’m praying for, I'm hoping she has Stockholm Syndrome because otherwise, why is she with JD Vance? She has to.”
Finally, Patel turned to Kash Patel, “I'm not saying shit about Kash Patel. I'm trying—not trying to get one of these one-way tickets to El Salvador.”
Seeking to educate the audience about the guy with whom he shares a last name, Patel added, “If you don’t know, Kash Patel, you guys don't seem that concerned, but every Indian knows Kash Patel, but if you don't know him, he is the director of the FBI and people don't seem worried about him but his real name is Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel. He grew up in racist ass Long Island with the name Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel. He is out for revenge. You should be very concerned. I'm not a fan of the guy's politics, but if I get pulled over, that is my cousin.”
Patel could have tried to give a level-headed answer to Chieng's initial question. Instead, he mocked the idea that people of roughly average height are disfavored by God, an Indian woman married to a conservative white man is a hostage, and the FBI director is on a race-inspired vengeance tour. The Daily Show may call that comedy, but it isn’t.
Here is a transcript for the April 15 show:
Comedy Central The Daily Show
4/15/2025
11:26 PM ET
RONY CHIENG: So what is going on with Indians and MAGA?
NIMESH PATEL: As the Indian representative—
CHIENG: No, I mean, there is something interesting—
PATEL: Well, yeah, look, that’s Trump's DEI: Indian people. The deek-eating Indians. Dude, there's so many — there are so many Indians that love Donald Trump. Like, Vivek Ramaswamy.
CHIENG: Yeah.
PATEL: Some Indians are like, yeah.
CHIENG: Another Harvard guy.
PATEL: Was he a Harvard guy?
CHIENG: I'm pretty sure he's a Harvard guy
PATEL: I mean, what a herb. If you don't know what a herb is, a herb is what we call people in the 90s when they’re being herbs. Like he’s a herb, he ran for president and lost, obviously. He ran for president, and his main thing — his opening line was "God is real." Why did He make you 5'7", Vivek? I don't know if he is 5'7", but he has 5'7" energy, and then I will not say his name again because if you say it more than three times, he pops up behind you.
CHIENG: Pops up under the desk, yeah.
PATEL [AS RAMASWAMY]: "Let's end affirmative action, guys." [NORMAL VOICE] Alright, dude.
CHIENG [AS RAMASWAMY]: Vivek Ramaswamy.
PATEL: And there’s Usha Vance.
CHIENG: Oh, Usha Vance, yeah.
PATEL: Who I’m praying for, I'm hoping she has Stockholm Syndrome because otherwise, why is she with JD Vance? She has to.
And then of course, of course—
CHIENG: The king.
PATEL: Kash Patel. I'm not saying shit about Kash Patel. I'm trying — not trying to get one of these one-way tickets to El Salvador.
CHIENG: Everyone else is fair game.
PATEL: If you don’t know, Kash Patel, you guys don't seem that concerned, but every Indian knows Kash Patel, but if you don't know him, he is the director of the FBI and people don't seem worried about him but his real name is Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel. He grew up in racist ass Long Island with the name Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel. He is out for revenge. You should be very concerned. I'm not a fan of the guy's politics, but if I get pulled over, that is my cousin. You don’t see the resemblance? That's me, dude.
