President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American Harmeet K. Dhillon as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice. Announcing the nomination on Truth Social, a platform he owns, Trump stated, “I am pleased to nominate Harmeet K. Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the US Department of Justice.”
Dhillon, a Sikh, graduated from Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School and previously clerked for the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Highlighting her career, Trump said, “Harmeet has consistently stood up to protect our cherished civil liberties. She has challenged big tech over censorship, defended Christians denied the right to pray during COVID, and taken on corporations using woke policies to discriminate against workers.”
Recognized as one of the nation’s top election lawyers, Trump praised Dhillon for her commitment to ensuring all legal votes are counted. “Harmeet is a respected member of the Sikh religious community and will be a tireless defender of constitutional rights, enforcing civil rights and election laws fairly and firmly,” he added.
Born in Chandigarh, Dhillon moved to the United States as a child. In 2016, she made history as the first Indian-American to appear on stage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. This year, she faced racial attacks after reciting the Sikh prayer Ardas at the Republican National Convention in July. Last year, she ran unsuccessfully for the Republican National Committee chairmanship.
Expressing her gratitude for the nomination, Dhillon posted on X, “I am extremely honored by President Trump’s nomination to assist with our nation’s civil rights agenda. It has been my dream to serve our great country, and I am thrilled to join an incredible team of lawyers led by Pam Bondi. I cannot wait to get to work!” She also paid tribute to her late father, Tejpal, and husband, Sarv, while thanking her mother and brother for their unwavering support.
With inputs from PTI