Letter to President Donald J. Trump, White House

This letter was sent to President Donald J. Trump. It was supposed to be hand-delivered to one of his secretaries by a good friend of mine who works in a lower-level position at the White House. I encourage all Sri Lankans—whether in Sri Lanka, the United States, or around the world—to do their part by sending a short, respectful letter to the President. The address can be found below. When writing, please be concise and courteous. Whether or not you voted for President Trump, a little pressure from our community worldwide, could go a long way. jayam2424@yahoo.com

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President Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Trump,

I am a proud citizen of the United States, having migrated from Sri Lanka over 60 years ago.

You once met my brother, Chandran Rutnam, at Trump Tower in New York City. He produced a movie with Bo Derek, titled Ghosts Can’t Do It, in which you were featured. That film was shot on location in the country of my birth, Sri Lanka — a connection I’ve always found meaningful.

My family and I deeply appreciate all that you have done and continue to do to Make America Great Again. Many of the actions you’ve taken — particularly around trade and tariffs — were discussed by previous presidents, including Clinton, Obama, and Biden. But unlike them, you had the courage to take decisive action and follow through.

You have demonstrated remarkable fortitude in adjusting unfair trade practices. Raising tariffs to establish a more equitable balance of trade was a bold yet necessary move — one you even spoke of in an interview as far back as 1998.

While I am a committed American, I continue to hold a deep fondness for the country of my birth. Naturally, I want Sri Lanka to succeed and prosper.

Sri Lanka is slowly beginning to recover from a devastating financial crisis triggered by a shortage of U.S. dollars three years ago. As part of this recovery, exports to the U.S. — worth approximately $3 billion — are critically important. However, the recently imposed 44% tariff poses a significant threat to this progress. With global demand uncertain, these tariffs may severely limit Sri Lanka’s recovery path.

Mr. President, I respectfully urge you to reconsider this tariff increase on Sri Lankan exports. If a full rollback is not feasible, perhaps a temporary suspension or reduction could be granted — providing crucial relief as the country continues to regain its economic footing.

Thank you for your continued leadership. May God guide you in all your decisions as President of the United States.

Respectfully,

Jayam Rutnam