US lawmakers have condemned a social media post by President Donald Trump, which referred to India and other countries as 'hellholes'. The post sparked widespread criticism, with Indian-American Congressmen Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, and Raja Krishnamoorthi leading the charge.
Congressman Bera said the comments were 'offensive, ignorant, and beneath the dignity of the office he holds', while Congressman Krishnamoorthi called it 'disgraceful and beneath the office he holds'. Congressman Khanna questioned Vice-President JD Vance on X, asking if he agreed with Trump's 'hellhole' reference, given that Vance's wife is of Indian descent.
The controversy began when Trump posted a transcript of a conservative political talk show on his Truth Social account, which included the 'hellhole' reference. The Trump administration has launched a legal effort to end birthright citizenship, which grants US citizenship to anyone born on US soil.
Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee took exception to Trump sharing the post, saying it was 'racist trash' and that the President was 'amplifying racist rhetoric at a time when racial attacks against Indian-Americans on social media sites have increased sharply'. Indian-American groups like the Hindu-American Foundation (HAF) also expressed concern and requested Trump to delete his post.
