'Deeply disturbed': Hindu American Foundation reacts to Trump reposting racist screed targeting Indians, Chinese

The Hindu American Foundation reacted to President Donald Trump sharing disparaging remarks about India at a time when racism is already at an all-time high, the HAF said. The president reported commentator Michael Savage’s remarks where he referred to India, China and other nations as “hell-holes”. The comment came in the context of the birthright citizenship law and Trump reposted it on his Truth Social without adding anything to it.“A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring in their entire family from China, or India, or some other hell-hole on the planet,” Savage wrote describing Indians and Chinese immigrants as “gangsters with laptops”.

“They’ve done more damage to this nation than all the mafia families put together. In my unhumble opinion. Gangsters with laptops. They’ve robbed us blind, treated us like second-class citizens, let the trud world triumph, stepped on our flag, et cetera,” he wrote.The Hindu American Foundation urged the president to delete the post as it would further stoke hatred against Indians in the US. “We are deeply disturbed by @POTUS sharing this hateful, racist screed targeting Indian and Chinese Americans. Endorsing such rants as the president of the United States will further stoke hatred and endanger our communities, at a time when xenophobia and racism are already at an all time high. We ask @realDonaldTrump to reconsider, delete this post & recognize the indelible contributions of Asian Americans to our great country,” the HAF wrote.The US embassy in New Delhi, however, papered over the controversy and said Trump, in the past, praised India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Embassy spokesperson Christopher Elm said Trump heaped praises on India at a world leader’s summit in 2025 after the Gaza ceasefire that ended the Israel-Hamas war. “India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top and he’s just done a fantastic job. I think Pakistan and India are going to live very nicely together,” Trump had said at that time.