In the months following the United States presidential election, culminating with the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, white supremacists and neo-Nazis on social media have targeted proposed members of the incoming administration – as well as the Second Lady and other prominent Republican figures – with racist hate online.
The attacks, which are primarily focused on individuals of South Asian (often Indian) heritage, allege a conspiracy to import Indian immigrants into the United States, and claim that based on their heritage, they should be deported or prohibited from engaging in politics, including members of the incoming cabinet and the Republican Party more broadly.
The following report will highlight the racist attacks targeted at Second Lady Usha Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy, Kash Patel, the nominee to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and others.
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Second Lady Usha Vance And Vice President J.D. Vance Receive Racial Hatred On Social Media
A white supremacist and ultranationalist user wrote on December 28, 2024: "HOW THE FUCK ARE SO MANY PEOPLE FROM INDIA TRYING TO CONTROL THE USA? In this last election we had 3 people who's Parents Migrated From India Vivek Ramaswamy Both Parents Indian Kamala Harris's Mother was Indian Nimarata Nikki Randhawa Haley Both Parents From India And JD Vance whos Wife Usha Vance Both Parents From India."
A prominent ultranationalist posted a screenshot of Fox News coverage showing Usha Vance looking up at her husband and smiling. Ramsey wrote "The look of a woman who adores her man." Multiple users responded with racist and hateful comments. A white supremacist user wrote "thats a pajeet, man."
A Neo-Nazi responded simply with "Race mixing," followed by a vomiting emoji.
White Supremacists Online Target Proposed FBI Director Kash Patel With Anti-Indian Racism
President Trump's proposed FBI Director, Kash Patel, has been targeted for his Indian heritage by white supremacists and neo-Nazis, who see his appointment as part of a larger conspiracy to install Indian individuals in high-level positions in the government.
Following a video in which Patel claimed that the American Dream belongs "to the world," numerous white supremacists and ultranationalists responded with racist vitriol, criticizing his remarks, and assaulted him based on his racial identity. An antisemitic white supremacist user wrote in response: "Kash Patel and Vivek single handedly increased pajeet hate 1000x."
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