Highlights:
- President Donald Trump celebrated Diwali in the Oval Office with Indian-American leaders and CEOs.
- FBI Director Kash Patel called it an “honour” to celebrate as a first-generation Indian-American.
- CEOs like Shantanu Narayen, Sanjay Mehrotra, and Arvind Krishna attended the event.
- Trump praised Diwali as a “festival of light over darkness” and extended wishes to India.
- He said he had a “great conversation” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion.
President Donald Trump celebrated Diwali in the Oval Office on Tuesday (22), joined by Indian-American FBI director Kash Patel and several business leaders. The event featured the traditional lighting of diyas and festive decorations inside the White House.
Kash Patel shared a video of celebration on social media, thanking Trump for his 'leadership and hospitality.' “A real honour to be celebrating Diwali in the Oval Office with @realDonaldTrump,” Patel wrote on X.
In his address, Patel said, “It’s an honour to be a first-generation Indian American whose parents lawfully immigrated to this country and under your leadership so many more millions of Americans are living that dream.” He added that celebrating Diwali in the Oval Office was “incredibly humbling” and that Indian Americans were proud to see their culture represented at such a level.
Trump, smiling, responded with, “Thank you. Congratulations,” before the clip ended.
Several top Indian-origin CEOs joined the event, including Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen, Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra, and IBM’s Arvind Krishna. The president described Diwali as a “great festival” symbolizing “light over darkness” and offered his “warmest wishes to the people of India.”
During the celebration, Trump also mentioned his phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We had a great conversation… he’s a great person, and he’s become a great friend of mine over the years,” Trump said.
In a Diwali message released by the White House, Trump wrote, “Today, I send my best wishes to every American celebrating Diwali—the Festival of Lights. 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.”
He added, “As millions of citizens light diyas and lanterns, we rejoice in the eternal truth that good will always triumph over evil. To every American celebrating Diwali, may this observance bring abiding serenity, prosperity, hope, and peace.”
