Nalin Haley, the 24-year-old son of Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley, has publicly distanced himself from his Indian heritage, declaring that his loyalty lies solely with the United States. In an interview with the New York Post, he said he has never visited India and does not feel any cultural connection that would warrant allegiance to another country. His comments followed earlier statements in which he advocated for banning H-1B visas and limiting even legal immigration, despite his own grandfather immigrating from Punjab and building an academic career in the US.
Haley framed his stance around the economic anxieties of young Americans, arguing that the US should not be importing foreign workers at a time when “AI is taking over jobs” and many American companies “aren’t hiring our own kids.” Presenting himself as a voice for Gen Z conservatives, he criticised Republicans for ignoring the concerns of young voters and catering to elites and corporations rather than workers. He said that free-market conservatism has left his generation struggling with housing costs and corruption issues such as insider trading.
Haley pointed to the recent victory of Democrat Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election as a signal of how effectively Democrats are tapping into Gen Z frustrations. He said the GOP is losing younger voters because it refuses to acknowledge or address the issues they care about, while Democrats are actively listening to them. He described himself as a “Christian, populist, and nationalist,” arguing that many Gen Z conservatives share those views.
Though he has voiced strong opinions on immigration and American nationalism, Nalin Haley says he has no plans to run for office. Instead, he hopes to push the Republican Party toward what he calls “economic realism” — putting working-class Americans before corporations and reflecting the priorities of younger conservatives.
