In the digital age, social media platforms like X have become arenas for political discourse, cultural debates, and personal confrontations. One such recent exchange that garnered significant attention was between Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar and conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza. The Indian-American community , being one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the U.S., often finds itself at the intersection of cultural preservation and assimilation. The exchange between Thanedar and D’Souza underscores the internal debates within the community regarding representation, political alignment, and cultural identity .
On April 29, 2025, Dinesh D'Souza posted on X, "If this guy lived in India, he would be a municipal clerk or waiter. Here he thrives because of “diversity.” On the Left, his broken English and semi-illiterate solecisms are seen as positive traits. We need fewer people like him in this country," captioning a video of Shri Thanedar.
The suggestion that someone would only be fit to be a “municipal clerk or waiter” in India is not only classist, but it also shows a profound ignorance of how talent, intelligence, and ambition manifest across socioeconomic backgrounds. Both jobs mentioned are respectable and necessary, but the intent here is to degrade. Ironically, this post shows exactly why diversity matters. People from different backgrounds bring fresh perspectives, innovation, and empathy that monolithic societies lack. America was built by immigrants—many with accents, broken grammar, and determination. To wish for “fewer people like him” is to wish for a smaller, meaner, and less interesting country. And that’s a loss for everyone.
In response to D'Souza's remark, Shri Thanedar's son, Neil Thanedar replied, "That's my dad. He did live in India as a kid. Then he worked multiple jobs while graduating college by 18, then made it to America, then started multiple businesses, then employed hundreds of Americans, then became a US Congressman. Meanwhile, you're just a felon."
Shri Thanedar represents the people of Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, which includes much of Wayne County including the city of Detroit, Grosse Pointe, and Downriver. Prior to being elected to Congress in 2022, Congressman Thanedar served in the Michigan House of Representatives. At the State Capitol he helped pass the largest increase in per-pupil funding for Michigan Public Schools in state history.
To Thanedar's felon comment, which was a reference to a finance fraud he was sentenced for in 2014, D' Souza replied, "my son in law is 30 years old and he’s a US Congressman. I too grew up in India, and I’ve written bestselling books, made record-breaking films, worked in the White House, been president of a college and a scholar at Stanford. So what makes me “just a felon”?"
Hinting once again at D'Souza's felony charges, Shri Thanedar took to X another sarcastic remark. "I did grow up in India. My dad was a clerk. Then I found my American Dream. Now I’m helping many other Americans achieve their dreams. If you need help recovering from your felony, please let me know. Happy to help," he posted.
"I gave too much of my own money to a college friend running for office. That’s what you want to help me “recover” from? Compare what I did to what you did," D'Souza clarified. D' Souza was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to five years of probation, with eight months during the first year to be served in a community confinement center, after having pled guilty to violating the federal campaign election law by making illegal contributions to a United States Senate campaign in the names of others. Donald Trump had pardoned him in 2018. Trump claimed the Obama-era prosecution was politically motivated and argued that D’Souza had been “treated very unfairly.” The pardon was seen by many as a reward for D’Souza’s vocal support of Trump and his right-wing ideology. Critics argued it undermined accountability in campaign finance violations. Trump’s decision was part of a broader pattern of pardoning political allies and controversial figures who aligned with his views or had been critical of his opponents.
The X exchange between Shri Thanedar and Dinesh D’Souza serves as a microcosm of the broader debates surrounding immigration, identity, and assimilation in American society. For the Indian-American community, and indeed for all immigrant groups, such dialogues underscore the importance of advocating for inclusive policies, challenging reductive narratives, and fostering environments where diverse identities are acknowledged and celebrated.
Read the X post here:
On April 29, 2025, Dinesh D'Souza posted on X, "If this guy lived in India, he would be a municipal clerk or waiter. Here he thrives because of “diversity.” On the Left, his broken English and semi-illiterate solecisms are seen as positive traits. We need fewer people like him in this country," captioning a video of Shri Thanedar.
The suggestion that someone would only be fit to be a “municipal clerk or waiter” in India is not only classist, but it also shows a profound ignorance of how talent, intelligence, and ambition manifest across socioeconomic backgrounds. Both jobs mentioned are respectable and necessary, but the intent here is to degrade. Ironically, this post shows exactly why diversity matters. People from different backgrounds bring fresh perspectives, innovation, and empathy that monolithic societies lack. America was built by immigrants—many with accents, broken grammar, and determination. To wish for “fewer people like him” is to wish for a smaller, meaner, and less interesting country. And that’s a loss for everyone.
In response to D'Souza's remark, Shri Thanedar's son, Neil Thanedar replied, "That's my dad. He did live in India as a kid. Then he worked multiple jobs while graduating college by 18, then made it to America, then started multiple businesses, then employed hundreds of Americans, then became a US Congressman. Meanwhile, you're just a felon."
Shri Thanedar represents the people of Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, which includes much of Wayne County including the city of Detroit, Grosse Pointe, and Downriver. Prior to being elected to Congress in 2022, Congressman Thanedar served in the Michigan House of Representatives. At the State Capitol he helped pass the largest increase in per-pupil funding for Michigan Public Schools in state history.
To Thanedar's felon comment, which was a reference to a finance fraud he was sentenced for in 2014, D' Souza replied, "my son in law is 30 years old and he’s a US Congressman. I too grew up in India, and I’ve written bestselling books, made record-breaking films, worked in the White House, been president of a college and a scholar at Stanford. So what makes me “just a felon”?"
Hinting once again at D'Souza's felony charges, Shri Thanedar took to X another sarcastic remark. "I did grow up in India. My dad was a clerk. Then I found my American Dream. Now I’m helping many other Americans achieve their dreams. If you need help recovering from your felony, please let me know. Happy to help," he posted.
"I gave too much of my own money to a college friend running for office. That’s what you want to help me “recover” from? Compare what I did to what you did," D'Souza clarified. D' Souza was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to five years of probation, with eight months during the first year to be served in a community confinement center, after having pled guilty to violating the federal campaign election law by making illegal contributions to a United States Senate campaign in the names of others. Donald Trump had pardoned him in 2018. Trump claimed the Obama-era prosecution was politically motivated and argued that D’Souza had been “treated very unfairly.” The pardon was seen by many as a reward for D’Souza’s vocal support of Trump and his right-wing ideology. Critics argued it undermined accountability in campaign finance violations. Trump’s decision was part of a broader pattern of pardoning political allies and controversial figures who aligned with his views or had been critical of his opponents.
The X exchange between Shri Thanedar and Dinesh D’Souza serves as a microcosm of the broader debates surrounding immigration, identity, and assimilation in American society. For the Indian-American community, and indeed for all immigrant groups, such dialogues underscore the importance of advocating for inclusive policies, challenging reductive narratives, and fostering environments where diverse identities are acknowledged and celebrated.
Read the X post here:
I did grow up in India. My dad was a clerk. Then I found my American Dream. Now I’m helping many other Americans achieve their dreams. If you need help recovering from your felony, please let me know. Happy to help. https://t.co/dVPFsczSAF
— Shri Thanedar (@ShriThanedar) April 29, 2025
You may also like
Nigel Farage suggests Donald Trump's Canada '51st state' of America comments backfired
Kashmiri shawl sellers slapped in Mussoorie, forced to shut shop
Martin Lewis flags new 'cheapest energy deal' from British Gas which could save you £285
Salesforce South Asia CEO Arundhati Bhattacharya Conferred With Padma Shri
Modi Gives Military Full Freedom to Strike Back After Pahalgam Attack: “Time to Break Terror's Back”
