Trump Hosts Diwali Celebration at White House, Mixing Festival of Lights with Business and Tariff Talk

President Donald Trump marked Diwali on Tuesday with an Oval Office celebration that blended traditional Hindu festival symbolism with business pronouncements and frank discussion of the 50% tariffs he has imposed on India, creating a distinctive White House observance that mixed reverence with realpolitik.

“What a wonderful culture and what a wonderful group of people,” Trump said as he walked to his desk in the Oval Office at approximately 4 p.m. on October 21. The president lit a traditional diya—an oil lamp symbolizing the victory of light over darkness—while standing next to FBI Director Kash Patel, surrounded by high-level Indian-American officials and corporate executives.

“It’s a beautiful term—light over darkness—that’s what it’s all about,” Trump added.

A Presidential Message and Mixed Signals

The celebration came one day after Trump issued an official Diwali message on October 20. “Today, I send my best wishes to every American celebrating Diwali—the ‘Festival of Lights,'” Trump wrote in a statement published on the White House website. “For many Americans, Diwali is a timeless reminder of light’s victory over darkness. It is also a time to bring families and friends together to celebrate community, draw strength from hope, and embrace a lasting spirit of renewal.”

But Tuesday’s event demonstrated the complex relationship between the United States and India under the Trump administration, as the president celebrated Indian culture while simultaneously defending punitive economic measures against the nation.

Trump revealed he had spoken with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier that day about “trade and a lot of things,” according to PBS News. The president described Modi as “a great person and he’s become a great friend of mine over the years,” and said he “loves the people of India.”

Yet the conversation occurred against the backdrop of significant economic tensions. Trump has placed a 25% tariff on goods from India specifically for its purchase of Russian oil, on top of an existing 25% tariff as part of his broader trade agenda—bringing the total tariff rate on India to 50%, according to Spectrum News.

Business Leaders and Investment Announcements

The guest list reflected both the celebration’s cultural significance and its business undertones. According to the Deseret News, attendees included high-level Indian-origin members of the Trump administration: National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon.

Also present were prominent Indian-American CEOs: Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna. Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Vinay Kwatra and newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also attended.

Trump used the occasion to tout what he claimed was more than $17 trillion in investments “pouring into the United States” since his return to office, crediting his election victory and “the sweeping tariffs he has imposed.”

IBM’s Krishna announced his company plans to invest $150 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, while Mehrotra stated that Micron is spending $200 billion domestically, commitments that include investments in chip manufacturing and research and development, Spectrum News reported.

“In the spirit of Diwali, we should also acknowledge all that the president and the administration are doing to really boost technology innovation and that leading to economic growth,” Krishna said. He added that public-private partnerships in the United States have been crucial for advancing technology in areas including space, internet, semiconductors, and potentially quantum computing.

The Diya Lighting Ceremony

The centerpiece of the celebration was the lighting of the diya. Trump invited IBM’s Krishna to light the lamp “as a symbol of faith in the victory of light over darkness.”

“The glow of the Diya flame reminds us to seek the path of wisdom and to work with diligence and to always give thanks for our many blessings,” Trump said.

The Statesman quoted Trump as explaining the festival’s deeper meaning: “It’s knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. During Diwali, revelers recall ancient stories of enemies defeated, obstacles removed and captives freed.”

Patel, standing beside the president during the lighting, emphasized his personal connection to the occasion. “I am a first generation Indian-American whose parents lawfully immigrated to this country,” he noted —a statement that seemed calculated to align with Trump’s hardline immigration agenda while celebrating his own immigrant heritage.

One attendee told Trump: “Indian Americans around the world and Indians around the world are thrilled that you are such a profound leader in sharing this diversity with the world and we can’t thank you enough,” the Deseret News reported.

The Tariff Elephant in the Room

Despite the celebratory atmosphere, the event couldn’t escape the economic tensions between the two nations. Trump has repeatedly claimed that Modi personally told him India would stop buying oil from Russia, though Indian officials have pushed back on this narrative.

Trump told reporters last week that if India didn’t stop purchasing Russian oil, the country would continue to pay “massive” tariffs. The White House has doubled down on the 50% tariffs currently imposed on New Delhi.

The president has called on nations to stop purchasing Russian oil as part of his strategy to pressure Moscow economically and facilitate an end to the war in Ukraine. However, the additional 25% tariff for buying Russian oil was only placed on India.

Trump described the trade situation with India as “interesting” during the event, PBS News reported, without providing further details about the substance of his conversation with Modi.

Modi’s Response

Prime Minister Modi responded publicly to Trump’s outreach. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi wrote: “On this festival of lights, may our two great democracies continue to illuminate the world with hope and stand united against terrorism in all its forms.”

Modi thanked Trump for the phone call and warm Diwali greetings, though the Indian government has not confirmed Trump’s claims about agreements regarding Russian oil purchases.

This story was aggregated by AI from several news reports and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk.