WASHINGTON — A recent Truth Social post by President Trump attacking immigrants from India and China is being condemned by Asian Pacific American elected officials and organizations.
On April 22, Trump posted a transcript from a recent episode of “The Savage Nation” hosted by conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage, as well as a video of the podcast. Savage referred tto China and India as “hell-hole” places and said that immigrants from those countries have not integrated into American society as European Americans have.
According to **The New York Times,** Savage claimed that these immigrants have “almost no loyalty” to the U.S.; that America is being “overrun with Chinese coming here just to drop a baby on our shores and then bring in the entire family”; and that Indians and Chinese set up “internal mechanisms” so that only people from their countries can get tech jobs in California.
“A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hell-hole on the planet … They’re not like the European Americans of today and their ancestors,” he said.
Trump did not add his own commentary, but critics say that it is clear that he agrees with Savage and that the post reflects the president’s desire to eliminate birthright citizenship.
Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus said in a statement: “We are deeply outraged by the racist and xenophobic post shared by President Trump referring to India and China as ‘hell-holes’ and calling immigrants from these countries ‘gangsters with laptops’ who have ‘stepped on our flag.’
“At a time when hate incidents against South Asian communities are on the rise, and one in four Americans view Chinese Americans as a threat, this kind of rhetoric pours fuel on an already dangerous fire.
“This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of the president legitimizing bigotry. The Trump Administration hired individuals who called to ‘normalize Indian hate’ and said to ‘never trust a Chinaman or Indian.’ “Time and again, President Trump has demonstrated not only his disdain for our communities, but a fundamental rejection of America’s identity as a nation of imigrants.
“Those who become American by birthright are just as American as anyone else. As members of CAPAC, we unequivocally condemn these posts and call on President Trump to fulfill the most basic obligation of his office: to serve all Americans with dignity and respect, not just those he deems worthy.”
The statement was signed by members of Congress of Indian and Chinese descent: CAPAC Chair Grace Meng (D-N.Y.); Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Ted Lieu (D-Torrance); CAPAC Chair Emerita Judy Chu (D-Pasadena); CAPAC Whip Ami Bera (D-Sacramento); CAPAC Freshman Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.); Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.); Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.); and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.).
Lieu also issued his own statement: “During WWII, over 100,000 Americans were torn from their homes and forcibly incarcerated in U.S. internment camps because they were deemed disloyal. The message was clear: Japanese Americans could never truly belong. Their very presence was a threat.
“That logic didn’t begin or end there. For much of U.S. history, Asian Americans have been cast as forever foreigners – regardless of whether they were born here or have spent decades building their lives in this country.
“Now, as Trump attempts to strip citizenship away from thousands of naturalized Americans, he posts a racist rant on social media – claiming there is ‘no loyalty’ among today’s immigrants, singling out Indian and Chinese communities specifically. Meanwhile, the rant claims European immigrants are the only example of successful assimilation. Also, Trump uses racial stereotypes to describe a Chinese American attorney as ‘very smart, very evil, and very devious.’
“I came to this country with my family at three years old. With the support of hard-working parents and a country that provided limitless opportunity, we went from going to flea markets to having a successful small business. I served my country on active duty for four years before joining the Air Force Reserves for 21 years. I have dedicated my career to serving my neighbors and my country.
“Immigrants make our country great. Nothing Trump says will change that.
“Trump is also the worst president ever. He dodged the draft, called our veterans suckers and losers, increased inflation with his unconstitutional tariffs and unconstitutional war, constantly seeks to divide Americans, and falls asleep at public events. He should resign in shame.”
Jayapal added, “Trump’s post describing Chinese and Indian immigrants as ‘gangsters with laptops’ and calling India a ‘hell-hole’ is disgusting, insulting and rooted in white supremacy.
“Birthright citizenship is foundational to America — no amount of racism or xenophobia from Trump can change that.”
Asian Pacific American civil rights organizations have also weighed in:
++The Asian American Foundation:++ “We are appalled by President Trump’s decision to share the transcript of a podcast that denigrates Chinese and Indian immigrants. By amplifying xenophobic rhetoric that questions the loyalty of immigrant and Asian American communities, the president legitimizes and effectively endorses these deeply racist beliefs.
“Our 2025 STAATUS Index highlights the dangerous reality that 40% of Americans believe that Asian Americans are more loyal to their countries of origin than to the U.S., and 1 in 4 U.S. adults are concerned that Chinese Americans are a threat to U.S. society. In recent months, we have also seen an alarming rise in hate incidents against South Asian Americans.
“When government officials amplify anti-Asian tropes at the highest levels, they signal that discrimination is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
“Just five short years ago, xenophobic sentiment platformed by the Trump Administration correlated with a rise in anti-Asian attacks during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We call on President Trump and other public officials to cease amplifying rhetoric that targets and endangers all American citizens.
“True leadership means protecting the safety and belonging of every American. We know that words have the power to drive action and we urge our nation’s leaders to demonstrate unity rather than hate.”
++Stop AAPI Hate:++ “We’re disgusted by Trump’s amplification of a racist, anti-immigrant tirade — slandering Chinese and Indian people as ‘gangsters’ from ‘hell-hole’ countries who have ‘almost no loyalty’ to the United States.
“Yet again, Trump is using his platform to spew racism and xenophobia at its most extreme. This is the same president whose hateful rhetoric fueled a wave of anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, his anti-immigrant policies are wreaking havoc across AA/PI communities.
“In fact, Stop AAPI Hate’s research shows that half of AA/PI adults felt the impact of Trump’s anti-immigrant policies or sentiment last year. If Trump continues to legitimize racism and xenophobia, this number will only continue to grow.”
++Asians Americans Advancing Justice-Southern California:++ “President Donald Trump shared a podcast calling China and India ‘hell-holes’ and questioning whether Asian immigrants belong in America. He posted it as the Supreme Court prepares to decide whether to end birthright citizenship this summer.
“Mr. Trump’s language is designed to build support for stripping constitutional rights from American-born children. And the facts contradict his hate: a Cato Institute study found that immigrants generated a $14.5 trillion fiscal surplus over the last 30 years.
“AJSOCAL will keep fighting for the dignity and constitutional rights of every immigrant community.”
According to the BBC, the Indian Foreign Ministry, without naming Trump or Savage, said that the remarks were “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste.”
“They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-U.S. relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests,” the ministry said.
The main opposition Congress party called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “take up this matter with the U.S. president and register a strong objection.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s response was less direct. He said that China’s image is “clear for the international community to see” and that “The world can judge for itself.”
According to **The New York Times,** White House spokesperson Kush Desai, who is of Indian descent, defended the post, saying that Trump was “calling out the scam of unfettered birthright citizenship.”
Desai also said that Trump’s relationship with Modi demonstrates his support for “patriotic Indian Americans who were an important bloc in the historic coalition that fueled his landslide 2024 election victory.”
Other prominent Trump Administration figures of Indian or Chinese descent include FBI Director Kash Patel; Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon; White House Communications Director Steven Cheung; and Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance.