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Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com and a well-known angel investor, is clearly responding to recent anti-immigration or anti-international student rhetoric in the U.S., possibly linked to Donald Trump or broader conservative narratives.
Here’s what he’s trying to say, broken down:
🔍 Core Message:
Trump and others are unfairly targeting international students and immigrants — the very people who have significantly contributed to the U.S. economy, innovation, and job creation. This isn’t about good policy; it’s about ego and short-sightedness.
📌 Key Points He’s Making:
Sarcastic Opening (Harvard jab):
Mittal begins with a humorous swipe suggesting Trump’s anti-immigrant stance might stem from insecurity or rejection from elite institutions like Harvard — setting the tone that this is more about ego than logic.
Contribution of International Students:
He highlights that international students:
Bring $44 billion to the U.S. economy.
Create over 378,000 jobs.
Lead 80% of unicorn startups (billion-dollar companies).
These are not freeloaders — they’re builders and contributors.
His Personal Story:
He shares his journey of studying at Boston College on a full scholarship, using that opportunity to question, learn, and eventually build companies. It’s a testimony of how the American system enabled success for him as an immigrant.
Criticism of U.S. Policies:
Mittal warns that pushing out such talent is hurting America, not helping it. The country is cutting off a vital source of growth by making immigrants feel unwelcome.
Immigrant Resilience:
Finally, he sends a strong message — immigrants can and will pivot. Like he did, they can return to their home countries and build there instead, taking their skills, ideas, and capital with them.
💡 In essence:
Anupam Mittal is defending immigrants and international students, showing how they fuel innovation and growth — and criticizing U.S. political moves (like those suggested by Trump) that threaten to drive them away, calling it a short-sighted and ego-driven mistake.
