Stop AAPI Hate’s Manjusha Kulkarni: Trump’s Rhetoric Fueling Hate Against S.Asians

BY REENA RATHORE

LOS ANGELES, CA — A new report from Stop AAPI Hate reveals a troubling rise in anti-Asian hate online following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. The analysis, titled “A New Extreme,” points to an “alarming surge” in racist language and threats of violence in extremist online spaces—particularly targeting South Asian communities—while also sparking real-world consequences. The data raises serious concerns about the safety and well-being of AAPI communities during the remainder of Trump’s presidency, according to the advocacy group.

The group examined online platforms such as Reddit, X, and 4chan and observed a notable increase in anti-Asian rhetoric between November 2024 and January 2025, coinciding with Trump’s re-election. Violent threats against Asian Americans increased by 59 percent in just one month, from November to December 2024. Of the December threats, 76 percent were directed at South Asians—equivalent to 884 threats of violence online. The use of anti-Asian slurs skyrocketed by 66 percent, peaking in January 2025.

Hate Spikes After Trump Election

Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and executive director of AAPI Equity Alliance, told India-West that “Trump’s anti-immigrant and racial rhetoric” is a key driver behind the increase in online hate. “Trump and his loyalists are emboldening racists to engage in hate and even to commit acts of hate. The anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric from Trump and his allies, both on the campaign trail as well as while in the White House, has created a hostile environment,” she said, adding that the focus on immigrants and their country of origin has triggered a wave of racism.

South Asians Bearing Brunt Of Online Attacks

The report found that South Asians have been disproportionately targeted. In December 2024 and January 2025, 73 percent of anti-Asian slurs and 75 percent of threats were directed at South Asians. Observed slurs in January 2025 increased 75 percent—with a total of over 63,000 slurs—compared to November 2024.

While East Asians were targeted less frequently, anti-East Asian slurs still rose by 50 percent over the same period.

Immigration Debates And Political Discourse

According to the report, this wave of online hate is not happening in a vacuum. Researchers found that spikes in anti-Asian sentiment often coincided with public debates on immigration policies, particularly those affecting South Asian communities.

For example, a notable increase in online hate occurred in December 2024, when discussions about H-1B visas—a program widely used by South Asians—were trending in political discourse.

“We started to see an increase online and in these domestic violent extremist spaces with the nomination of Kamala Harris as vice president,” Kulkarni noted, adding that Usha Vance’s prominence as the wife of Vice President J.D. Vance also played a role in escalating online hostility toward South Asians.

Indian Professionals, CEOs, Workers Targeted

Stop AAPI Hate’s research suggests that economic and immigration-related anxieties contributed to the rise in South Asian-specific hate.

“For many folks, you know, the threat of immigrants comes often from jobs, and what Trump is saying is, ‘They are threatening your jobs,’” Kulkarni explained. “So people may see South Asians specifically in desirable professions that they themselves want to be in.”

The report noted that Indian immigrants were accused of “stealing jobs,” particularly in white-collar occupations, and, therefore, threatening “white livelihood.” While the H-1B visa debate centered around Indian tech workers, there was also hate directed at Indian Uber drivers, fast food workers, and call center employees. The report also cited calls to attack Indian and Indian American CEOs following the murder of the United Health Care CEO.

Real-World Harassment And Violence

Kulkarni stressed that the digital and real worlds are no longer separate—what happens online can translate into real-world violence. Stop AAPI Hate has received reports of in-person harassment that mirror the surge of online threats.

One incident in Virginia involved an Indian American man being harassed at a restaurant. “A stranger approached him and said, ‘Trump is president, you have to go home and do Bharatanatyam in your living room,’” she shared.

Another Indian American man reported receiving hate mail demanding that he leave the country because “America has spoken and we don’t want people of your ethnicity poisoning the DNA of this country.”

The link between online hate speech and real-world attacks is a growing concern, said Kulkarni. “We’ve seen this before—under Trump’s first administration, when he used terms like ‘Kung Flu’ and ‘China Virus,’ it led to an increase in violence against Asian Americans,” she said, referencing the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings as one example of how racist rhetoric can have devastating consequences.

Social Media Platforms Failing

When asked about engaging with social media platforms to curb hate speech, Kulkarni expressed skepticism. “It appears futile to communicate with Twitter, given that Elon Musk himself is driving much of this racist rhetoric,” she said, adding that Meta/Facebook has also rolled back many of its content moderation policies, signaling a lack of commitment to protecting immigrant communities.

 ‘Many Roots, One Home’ Initiative

In response to these trends, Stop AAPI Hate has launched an advocacy campaign called Many Roots, One Home. The initiative aims to equip Asian Americans and allies with resources, action plans, and support networks to push back against anti-immigrant rhetoric.

“Though we come from many different places, we are all American, and we do intend to fight against Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, which threatens to disrupt our safety, our political power, and the rights of AAPI communities for generations to come,” she emphasized.

Call to Action

Kulkarni urged individuals to report incidents to Stop AAPI Hate, local state governments, and community organizations, engage civically, and push for policies that protect immigrant communities.

“In many places like California, they can actually get help when they’ve been threatened or they’ve experienced hate speech,” she said. “So here in California, we have a program called Stop the Hate, and there are 180 community-based organizations that are providing direct support to individuals when they experience hate.”

Warning for the Future

While drawing attention to historical patterns of discrimination, Kulkarni said there is an urgent need to combat anti-Asian hate both online and offline, particularly as the administration continues to frame immigrants through a criminal lens. She warned that if left unchecked, this hostile climate could escalate, threatening the safety and belonging of AAPI communities across the country.

“It wasn’t that long ago that discrimination against our communities was rampant… that segregation was the norm, that racism was the norm. The Asiatic Barred Zone Act in 1917 prohibited Indians from coming to the U.S. for nearly 50 years,” Kulkarni said. “These things were in our recent past as a country, and we should be reminded of that—because they might be in our future.”