Trump Joins Naturalisation Ceremony for 5 Including Indian Techie

The other four candidates were from Bolivia, Lebanon, Sudan and Ghana.

The Quint
South Asians
Updated:
Software engineer Sudha Sundari Narayanan was naturalised as a US Citizen at The White House on 25 August.
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Software engineer Sudha Sundari Narayanan was naturalised as a US Citizen at The White House on 25 August.
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@TheWhiteHouse)

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In an uncommon move, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, 26 August, participated in a naturalisation ceremony at the White House, aired on the second night of the Republican National Convention ahead of the US presidential elections.

Five candidates representing five different countries, including one Indian were naturalised in the ceremony.

The other four candidates were from Bolivia, Lebanon, Sudan and Ghana.

The Indian Candidate

Sudha Sundari Narayanan, a software developer from India, was among those sworn in as American citizens, reported PTI.

Reading out names and details of America’s five new citizens, Trump said:

"Sudha is a talented software developer and she and her husband are raising two beautiful, wonderful children 'the apples of your life’. Thank you very much and congratulations. Fantastic job."

Trump’s Remarks

Congratulating the new citizens, Trump said it is his honour to be with them.

“Today you have also accepted the profound duties and responsibilities that come with American citizenship. By swearing the Oath of Allegiance, each of you has entered a sacred and unbreakable covenant with our nation.”   
US President Donald Trump   

According to PTI, Trump also said that the US Bill of Right is "now yours to support, protect, and defend. As citizens, you’re now stewards of this magnificent nation, a family comprised of every race, colour, religion, creed, united by the bonds of love."

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Event Draws Backlash

According to NBC News, the Hatch Act generally bans federal employees, apart from the president, from participating in political activities in their official capacity, and critics charged that DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, who presided over the naturalisation ceremony filmed for the Republican National Convention, may have been a violation.

The use of the White House as a backdrop for the event raised red flags as well.

(With inputs from PTI and NBC News.)

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Published: 26 Aug 2020,12:59 PM IST

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