US President Donald Trump celebrates Diwali at the White House. Officials of Indian descent from his administration were present. The US President celebrated Diwali by lighting lamps in the Oval Office on Friday. On that occasion he was gifted Hanuman Chalisa.
Indian Ambassador to America Vinay Mohan Kwatra, eminent chef Vikas Khanna, entrepreneur Vishal Gondal, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, FBI Director Kash Patel and US National Institutes of Health Director Joy Bhattacharya were present at the event. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Social Security Administration Deputy Commissioner Arjun Modi were also present. Releasing pictures of the celebration, Gondal said, “The Oval Office is lit up. I am honored to celebrate Diwali with President Trump. I also gifted him a Hanuman Chalisa. I am proud of it. This hymn to Lord Hanuman written by Tulsidas is recited by millions of Indians for courage, devotion and strength.”
A moment of shared light in the Oval Office. Honored to celebrate Diwali with President @realDonaldTrump and proud to gift him with a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa, Tulsidas's hymn to Lord Hanuman that millions of us recite for courage, devotion and strength. As the diyas were lit, my prayer was for friendship between India and America, and for the triumph of light over darkness. Jug Jug Jiyo, a blessing many of us grew up hearing, means “may you live for ages.” It is the wish behind everything I do, and today I made it for everyone around the world: peace, prosperity, good health and longevity. Happy Diwali. Jug Jug Jiyo.
@TheVikasKhanna @DhallaRuby @WhiteHouse
— Vishal Gondal (@vishalgondal) November 6, 2026
The tradition of celebrating Diwali in the US administration started in 2003. Under President George Bush. Earlier the event was mainly held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where Indians and Americans attended. In 2009, President Barack Obama started the event in the East Room of the White House. He also lit the lamp.