Indian American comedian Zarna Garg is facing a wave of online backlash after comments she made on a recent podcast about former President Donald Trump and illegal immigration sparked sharp criticism, particularly from within the Indian American community.
Appearing on “The Daily Beast” podcast with Joanna Coles on Nov. 30, the Mumbai-born standup comedian said that Indian Americans “have no problem with Trump” and framed illegal immigration as an issue largely irrelevant to the diaspora. Garg argued that because most Indian immigrants come to the United States through legal pathways—often after years or decades of waiting—the community struggles to relate to concerns around undocumented immigration. Her remarks, delivered partly in a humorous tone, suggested sympathy for Trump’s emphasis on immigration enforcement, even as she acknowledged discomfort with his rhetoric and execution.
The comments quickly circulated on social media, where many users accused Garg of overgeneralizing the views of a diverse community and minimizing the lived realities of undocumented Indians.
The controversy deepened as attention turned to remarks made by Garg’s daughter, Zoya Garg, during the same podcast appearance. Zoya’s praise for Second Lady Usha Vance and her defense of Vice President J.D. Vance’s comments about religion drew further criticism, with users questioning what they saw as tone-deaf framing around race, identity, and politics.
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But who is Zarna Garg? How did she become a voice for the Indian American community through her comedy?
Who is Zarna Garg?
Garg is an Indian American standup comedian, writer, and content creator known for her sharp, family-friendly humor that explores immigrant life, cultural clashes, and the experiences of South Asian women in America.
For two years, Garg opened for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, a breakout moment that introduced her sharp, immigrant-mom humor to a much wider audience. The high-profile gigs helped cement her reputation as a rising standup star, building on viral clips that drew from her life as an Indian immigrant, mother, and reluctant late-in-life comedian.
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Zarna Garg immigrated to the United States as a teenager. Before turning to standup comedy, she worked as a lawyer — a career she left to pursue her passion for storytelling and humor.
Garg began performing standup in New York City’s comedy circuit, where her blend of observational humor, Indian cultural references, and immigrant family dynamics quickly stood out. She rose to prominence through her viral social media videos and sold-out live shows that appeal to both South Asian and mainstream American audiences.
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Her comedy is distinctive for being clean and family-friendly, focusing on generational conflicts, parenting, marriage, and identity. Her debut comedy special, “Zarna Garg: One in a Billion,” premiered on Prime Video (2023) to widespread acclaim.
She has appeared on major platforms including “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” “The Today Show,” and numerous podcasts and comedy festivals. Garg won the Kevin Hart’s Lyft Comics competition and has been featured as one of Variety’s “Comics to Watch.”
Garg often jokes about being a “brown mom with an opinion on everything,” offering a humorous yet heartfelt take on South Asian parenting and assimilation. She is one of the few South Asian women to achieve mainstream recognition in stand-up comedy, breaking cultural barriers while maintaining a characteristic Indian voice.