As Donald Trump clinched a surprising victory in the US presidential election, celebrities and leaders around the world extended their congratulations, including acclaimed Indian chef Vikas Khanna. Khanna shared an Instagram post featuring a 2020 photo of him shaking hands with Trump at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, taken during a dinner hosted by then-President Ram Nath Kovind. Grammy-winning composer AR Rahman, Trump, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appeared in the photo.
In his post, Khanna recalled a promise Trump had made during their meeting four years ago and expressed his hope to bring Indian cuisine to the White House. “Hello Mr. President! Hope to cook Indian cuisine at The White House as you promised the last time we met,” he captioned the post, addressing Trump as “Mr. President.”
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The post quickly gained attention, amassing nearly 50,000 likes but sparking a divided response. While some followers were excited about the possibility of seeing Khanna introduce Indian flavors to the White House, others expressed surprise and disappointment in his apparent support for Trump.
Comments ranged from encouragement to criticism. “Would love to see you cook there,” said one user, while another wrote, “Oh wow, did not expect that from you. Unfollowed.” Another supporter remarked, “Why so much hate? He’s just congratulating based on his past interactions.”
Despite the mixed responses, Khanna’s post highlighted the significant public attention surrounding Trump’s victory, with people reacting from across the spectrum of support and disapproval.