'Spent a decade but can't speak English': Indian-origin truck driver's interview goes viral, Social media users ask why he is seeking asylum in US

The US transport department has recently issued an emergency rule that only green card holders will be able to renew their commercial driver's license. An Indian truck driver 's interview with ABC 7 News went viral as he recounted the difficulty he was facing. But the virality was not because of his hardship but because of what he said in Hindi.

The truck driver, identified as Vivak Sharma, said only green card holders and US citizens can have their commercial trucking license renewed. Sharma has been in the United States legally for the past 10 years, seeking political asylum. His final court case is next year. He has been driving a truck for the past eight years. But now he can't. Sharma said he was worried that he would not be able to send money to India and would now have to look for other jobs.

As the video went viral, social media users had many questions, starting with why, despite living in the US, Sharma did not learn English. Some users asked why he was seeking asylum in the US, as he is not from a war-ravaged country.

"This noncitizen truck driver refuses to learn English and is upset because the Trump administration won't let him renew his Commercial Drivers License so he can send money back to his family in India," one wrote.

Crocodile tears for a man who has spent a decade in our country but couldn’t be bothered to learn our language.

Our new rules will keep you and your family SAFE on America’s roads! https://t.co/alMR2VhmnA

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) October 14, 2025

This non-citizen, who doesn't speak English, was DENIED a renewal for his trucking license after the Trump administration issued new guidance to close loopholes.

He's upset because he can't send money back to India now.pic.twitter.com/NUTbsdCAtU

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 14, 2025

Non US citizens are suddenly not able to renew their CDLs after the Trump administration closed loopholes that Gavin Newsom’s California was exploiting.

The DOT is singling out California for what it calls "gross negligence." It says more than 25% of CDLs given to noncitizens or… pic.twitter.com/lf4z0u6bSH

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) October 13, 2025

"He’s been here 10 years & driving a truck for 8 years. Still hasn’t learned English. Now he’s upset he can’t renew his CDL so he can send money back home to his family in India. Send this mother effer back home to India where he belongs," another wrote.

"Are you kidding me… WHO CARES. This NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING alien, was DENIED a renewal for his trucking license after the Trump administration issued new guidance to close the loopholes…. GOOD," a third user wrote.

Transport secretary Sean Duffy reacted to the video and wrote: rocodile tears for a man who has spent a decade in our country but couldn’t be bothered to learn our language. Our new rules will keep you and your family SAFE on America’s roads!"