Who's Jason Miller, India's lobbyist in DC, and can he turn the tide?

The Indian Embassy has hired Jason Miller, a former aide to Donald Trump, as its lobbyist in Washington, DC. According to filings with the US Department of Justice, Miller will provide "strategic counsel, tactical planning," traditional lobbying services, and perception management and public relations support when required. Miller's hiring comes even as India launches one of its biggest diplomatic exercises amid Operation Sindoor.

Miller's year-long contract, signed on May 21, includes a monthly retainer of $150,000, according to Politico. This marks Miller's first disclosed lobbying client during Trump's second term.

As President, Trump is an unpredictable politician with his real-estate developer's instincts kicking in time and again.

Trump jumped the gun to announce an India-Pakistan ceasefire on May 10, and offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue, which was outright turned down by New Delhi. Historically, the US has financed Pakistan as a strategic buffer against the Soviet Union, and for its war on terror. Getting Washington DC firmly on its side with a flippant Trump at the helm will need some intricate diplomatic work.

India has assigned the Operation Sindoor diplomatic mission to the team led by Shashi Tharoor.

However, a person who understands how Trump's brain functions will help India's diplomacy to a great extent. Miller is therefore India's guy in Washington DC.

Miller might also help counter Pakistan's narrative and use of the victim card after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Among other diplomatic measures, India suspended the IWT after Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists shot 26 people in Pahalgam, south Kashmir, on April 22.

PAKISTAN HIRES TRUMP'S FORMER BODYGUARD AS LOBBYIST

Pakistan, in its turn, has also hired two lobbyists linked to Trump, with one being his former bodyguard.

On the same day that Miller was hired by India, two other former Trump aides signed an agreement with the Pakistani government.

Keith Schiller, Trump’s former bodyguard, and Georges Sorel, former compliance chief at the Trump Organisation, registered through their firm Javelin Advisors to help Pakistan build "long-term economic partnerships" in the US by strengthening ties with the American government.

While Miller has only just taken on the role of India's lobbyist, his longstanding association with Trump could shape how effectively he navigates Washington's power corridors for India.

The hiring of Jason Miller is "probably the single most expensive personnel hiring and contractual decision by the government of India", writes political analyst Prashant Jha in The Hindustan Times.

WHO IS INDIA 'S NEW LOBBYIST, JASON MILLER?

Jason Miller is an American political strategist with a long-standing association with Donald Trump's presidential campaigns and presidency. He was also important in Trump's re-entry onto social media after the Capitol Hill riots in 2021. Miller announced that Trump's platform, Truth Social, would be a "total game changer".

Trump and Miller's involvement dates back to 2011, when Trump was considering a presidential run in 2012. In the 2016 campaign, Miller formally joined as a senior communications adviser.

His appointment was seen as an effort to bring more structure and professionalism to Trump’s media strategy, even though Miller had previously criticised Trump during his time working for Senator Ted Cruz’s campaign.

Following Trump’s victory in 2016, Miller became the chief spokesperson for the presidential transition team.

He was briefly announced as the incoming White House Communications Director but stepped down two days later, citing a desire to focus on his family, especially with the upcoming birth of his second daughter.

In 2017, he joined CNN as a political contributor but left after about 18 months due to legal issues.

In October 2019, he began co-hosting War Room: Impeachment with Steve Bannon. It was a daily podcast aimed at guiding the Trump White House through the impeachment enquiry. YouTube removed the podcast in January 2021 after the Capitol attack.

In Trump's 2020 re-election campaign, Miller returned as a senior adviser. There were allegations that his salary was routed through his former firm, making it difficult to verify his income during child support proceedings.

A long-time aide, Miller was also a vital part of Trump's 2024 campaign.

"It was always a matter of when and not if I will return to help re-elect President Trump in 2024, and seeing the current state of the country under Joe Biden, I couldn’t remain sidelined any longer," said Miller in a statement.

"You can impact the world a lot by launching a social media platform, but nothing compares to getting President Trump back into office," Miller said, according to Politico.

Jason Miller is India's man in DC. With a person who understands Trump and knows his way through the Washington maze, New Delhi might be able to have a more favourable America by its side.

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