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Asian-American youth prioritize jobs over Gaza, says AAPI Victory Alliance leader
Varun Nikore, executive director of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Victory Alliance, said economic issues held more significance as compared to foreign policy for Asian-American youth.
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Varun Nikore during an interview with New India Abroad. / Courtesy Photo
Issues pertaining to jobs are more important than foreign policy for Asian-American youth, Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Victory Alliance executive director Varun Nikore recently said in an interview.
Speaking to New India Abroad, Nikore quoted a recent Harvard University poll whose results claimed that only four percent of young voters aged 18-35 cited Gaza or foreign policy as the number one issue going into the upcoming US presidential elections.
"I know it's an extremely important issue for youth today overall, but I think there are other issues that are higher on the list for them, jobs, the economy, inflation, that both of the candidates, Biden and Trump, are going to be messaging on during this election,” Nikore told NIA. “But at least in the research right now, Gaza and foreign policy are just not registering. We have not had a foreign policy election in this country in a very, very long time.”
One of the key problems the Asian-American youth community is currently facing is the reluctance to vote and to talk about hard issues affecting them, such as inflation, according to Nikore.
"Over time, you lose your individual home country identities and you take on sort of more of an American identity. And so that's what I think is starting to play out in the research, but it's going to have its effect, of course, in the election,” the Washington-based business executive said. “One of the major challenges that the Asian-American community face, in particular, is their reluctance to go out and vote. Voting percentage is quite low.”
"So they have to talk about the issues, the bread and butter issues. Talk about inflation," he added.
Nikore said issues related to foreign policy weren't paramount even in 2008 when former President Barack Obama was elected. Speaking on his preference for the 2024 elections, the AAPI leader chose President Joe Biden over opponent Donald Trump.
"There are actually hard plans if you go to Project 2025 (Republican plan to reshape US government) about mass deportations that are alluding to Muslim bans. And so, this is not a theory. I think we haven't heard from Donald Trump on this issue because he's been too preoccupied with his trials, honestly," said Nikore.
On the other hand, Nikore appreciated Biden for “getting things done”.
"Even despite the odds of slim majorities in the House and the Senate, he (Biden) has been able to pass legislation and get things done. And so I not only am gratified with what we have seen, but I'm very optimistic that if and when he is re-elected, you will see a continuation of that and perhaps even more, obviously dependent upon the framework of the majorities in Congress. But I really do believe he's been an extremely effective president," Nikore added to make his stance clear.
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