Donald Trump’s MAGA Republicans Unleash Racist Attacks Against Usha Vance
Photo: Reuters/Mike Segar
India-West News Desk
MILWAUKEE, WI – In a disturbing turn of events, Usha Chilukuri, the Indian American wife of JD Vance, has become the latest target of racist attacks fueled by the far-right and MAGA extremists. These attacks come in the wake of Vance’s selection as the vice-presidential pick by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Chilukuri, who has Indian roots and is the daughter of immigrants from Vishakhapatnam, India, has been the subject of intense scrutiny and vitriol. Far-right figures and MAGA supporters have expressed their disdain for her heritage, claiming that her presence would lead to a softer stance on immigration issues.
Stew Peters, a far-right internet personality, in a racist tweet posted a photo of the couple, with this: “There is an obvious Indian coup taking place in the U.S. right before our eyes.”
Nick Fuentes, who has the ear of Trump and visited him at the White House when the former was in office is an American far-right political commentator. He questioned Vance’s loyalty to “white identity” due to his marriage to Chilukuri and their decision to name their child Vivek. Fuentes sneered, “Do we really expect that the guy who has an Indian wife and named their kid Vivek is going to support white identity?”
Fuentes further criticized Vance, calling his marriage “non-traditional” and casting doubt on his rapid political rise. He posted, “Another power-hungry sociopath with the put-on folksy Rustbelt act, obligatory non-combat tour in the Middle East, non-traditional marriage, and conspicuously rapid political ascendancy.”
Jaden McNeil, another far-right commentator and activist, also took to Elon Musk’s X to mock Vance’s immigration stance, sarcastically stating, “I’m sure this guy is going to be great on immigration,” while posting a picture of Vance, Chilukuri, and their newborn baby.
Speculation and misinformation continued to spread as some individuals falsely attributed a Hindu prayer at the Republican National Convention (RNC) to Vance’s influence. In reality, the prayer in question was a Sikh prayer which also drew attacks from the right wing extremists who back Trump.
The attacks on Usha Chilukuri underscore a broader issue of racism and xenophobia within certain segments of the far-right, highlighting their intolerance and prejudice against individuals of immigrant backgrounds.
Manny
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It all shows that Trump is not racist and picks people who don’t have racist tendencies.
July 18, 2024VIJAY
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It should come to no surprise that the republican party is tacitly racist as their actions speak louder along with thier thinking!
July 18, 2024Anil
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And yet they chose her husband!!!
Relax. Go with the majority and not the small fringe groups that are finding reasons to get at Trump.
And then there was Haley and Ramaswamy.
And a Black Michelle or Kamala.
So just remind them Brown or Black????
July 18, 2024LOL!
TruthbeTold
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Wrong. To brand the “Republican party” as racist is inaccurate. Just as I’m sure you would agree that not all Hindus are anti-Muslims. There are individuals who harbour hate in their hearts and minds. Can’t do much with them except hope they rid their ignorance
July 18, 2024N. Sampat
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Beyond zero surprise here., Usha, son Vivek, Vivek ramaswami, Haley, Kamala, jaypal etc etc.
It’s an overdose of indianness which America is probably not quite ready for….Give it 50 years plus or minus.
July 18, 2024Anil
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Should never have brought a Sikh prayer in the Republican Convention.
Buddhist was a better choice!!!
July 18, 2024TruthbeTold
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Why not ? Would it be wrong if an Indian Christian prayed at a campaign rally in India ?
July 18, 2024Those who discriminate are not worthy of being considered a human being
Daljit (Dean)Singh
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The core values of the Republican Party are against all minorities regardless of their color, nationality, religion, and gender. Watch them what they say or do. It is not in the interest of the Republican elite to treat all people fairly. Assess their policy platforms critically and you will find that it is all loaded in favor of big businesses. Social Security and Medicare, education, social services, and transportation will be seriously damaged and curtailed.
July 18, 2024Pushpita Prasad
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The appointment of JD Vance opened a floodgate of hate. Some have already covered the racism of the attacks but have ignored the strong streak of religious hatred for Usha as well-given her Hindu background and her continued identification as a Hindu.
We saw a flood of hateful comments, graphic images and comments that specifically targeted the faith, versus a generic racism or even anti-India hate. Mostly this hate gets ignored because our institutions do not really recognize Hinduphobia or anti-Hindu hate as a problem.
We made a thread on X sharing some of what we found, though we stayed away from amplifying some of the really graphic imagery, which continues to associate Hindus with dirt, filth and disgust. We saw a huge overlap in folks pushing antisemitism and anti-Hindu hate. And we saw the use of coded words and concepts like caste to continue to otherize Hindus.
We have seen Hindu politicians targeted -so much so that in the 2020 election cycle, Rev Jesse Jackson spoke up against the hate Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthy was facing. And while all minorities face hate, we saw clearly there is a sliding scale of hate and Hindus are seen at the extreme end of it.
We really need attention to the religious angle here
Pushpita Prasad, California
July 19, 2024Anonymous
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We took to Twitter/X to condemn the vile racist attacks made against Indian American Usha Vance, wife of former president Donald Trump’s VP pick Sen. J.D. Vance, and RNC member Harmeet Dhillon who is Sikh and Indian at the GOP convention this week.
Calling Dhillon “evil” and “demonic” and more broadly targeting Vance with racist comments because she is Indian, these latest examples of anti-Asian and, specifically South Asian hate, reinforce heightened levels of fear and anxiety Asian Americans and immigrants are currently experiencing across the country leading up to this year’s presidential election. In the midst of an inflamed political climate, we continue to see the targeting of South Asians across parties, including ongoing questioning of VP Kamala Harris’ electability.
@StopAAPIHate
July 19, 2024