Three Indian Americans have been appointed to positions within the new Trump administration. Kush Desai has been designated as the Deputy Press Secretary. A former journalist and experienced Republican communicator, Desai previously served as the Deputy Communications Director for the 2024. Republican National Convention and as the Communications Director for the Republican Party in Iowa. At the Republican National Committee, he was the Deputy Battleground States and Pennsylvania Communications Director, where he played a crucial role in developing messaging strategies for key battleground states, including Pennsylvania. His extensive background in political communications makes him an essential figure in the White House’s media strategy. Desai earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from George Washington University.
Saurabh Sharma has been appointed to the Presidential Personnel Office, where he will concentrate on staffing and appointments. Originally from Bengaluru, Sharma is the former President of American Moment, a conservative organization focused on personnel development. He gained national recognition in 2019 when, as a student activist at the University of Texas at Austin, he was one of ten students invited to the White House during the signing of an executive order aimed at promoting free speech on college campuses. Sharma graduated with a degree in Biochemistry from UT Austin in 2019, and his new role represents a significant advancement in his public service career.
Ricky Gill serves as the Senior Director for South and Central Asia. Prior to this position, he was involved with the National Security Council during the first term of the Trump administration, where he held the title of Director for Russia and European Energy Security. Additionally, he worked as a Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations at the State Department. After his tenure in government, Gill took on the role of Principal and General Counsel at Gill Capital Group, where he provided counsel to TC Energy on various energy initiatives in Europe and Asia, including the Keystone XL Pipeline project. A native of Lodi, California, Gill is the child of physicians Param and Jasbir Gill. He earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and subsequently obtained a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. With a persistent focus on political engagement, Gill has made two attempts to secure a congressional seat in California, both of which were unsuccessful.