3 hrs ago
Texas Republicans Condemn Bo French Post Targeting South Asian Students
Bo French is a Republican candidate for a statewide Texas office.
He posted a picture of South Asian students cheering at a University of Texas football game.
He said the picture showed that Americans had been displaced by foreigners.
In another message, he called the students a “problem.”
Several Republicans, including Senator John Cornyn and Governor Greg Abbott, criticized what he wrote.
Other lawmakers said the students were simply supporting their college football team.
Democrats and advocacy groups called the post racist or xenophobic.
Former Texas Republican Party chair Matt Rinaldi defended French’s position.
French has not publicly answered the criticism.
Bo French, the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission, described a photo of South Asian University of Texas students as evidence that Americans had been displaced by foreigners.
French also called the students a “problem” in a post about the University of Texas graduation and football crowd.
Senator John Cornyn, Governor Greg Abbott, and Texas lawmakers Lacey Hull and Jared Patterson criticized or rejected the message.
Democrats and advocacy groups called the post racist or xenophobic and said it targeted students based on their appearance.
Former Texas Republican Party chair Matt Rinaldi defended French while attacking Republicans who condemned him; French has not publicly responded.
- Who
- Bo French, Senator John Cornyn, Governor Greg Abbott, Texas lawmakers Lacey Hull and Jared Patterson, Democrats, and advocacy groups.
- What
- A social media post by French characterized South Asian University of Texas students as a “problem” and as foreigners, prompting widespread criticism.
- Where
- On X, with the image showing students at a University of Texas football game in Texas.
- When
- After French shared the image on X; the articles provide no specific date.
- Why
- Critics said French appeared to judge or demonize the students because of their race or appearance, while supporters linked the issue to immigration and labor concerns.
Critics of French’s Post
French’s Supporters and Immigration Hardliners
Meaning of the student photo
Critics of French’s Post
Cornyn, Abbott, Hull, Patterson, Democrats, and advocacy groups said the image showed young Texans supporting their university and that calling them a problem was racist or xenophobic.
French’s Supporters and Immigration Hardliners
French’s post portrayed the students’ appearance and presence as evidence of foreign displacement; he has not explained or publicly defended the post himself.
Immigration and labor concerns
Critics of French’s Post
Critics said South Asian Americans are as American as anyone and that students should not be treated as political targets because of how they look.
French’s Supporters and Immigration Hardliners
Matt Rinaldi attacked Republicans who condemned French, arguing that government handouts and cheap labor were harming children’s future; Abbott separately maintained support for restrictive immigration policies.
Key facts
- Candidate
- Bo French is the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission.
- Post wording
- French wrote that the scene showed how many Americans had been displaced by foreigners and said the problem was worse than imagined.
- Photo context
- The image showed South Asian or Asian American students celebrating at a University of Texas football game.
- Republican criticism
- John Cornyn called the post racist; Greg Abbott said the image showed Texans united behind their football team.
- Additional critics
- Lacey Hull urged French to delete the post, while Jared Patterson called it racist and demeaning to students.
- Democratic and group response
- James Talarico, Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Hindu American Foundation, and the Indian American Advocacy Council condemned the remarks.
- Support for French
- Former Texas Republican Party chair Matt Rinaldi criticized Republicans who condemned French and cited concerns about government handouts and cheap labor.
- Immigration policy
- Abbott continued supporting strict immigration laws and freezing H1B visas at Texas universities.
Quotes
John Cornyn
Republican U.S. senator from Texas
“This is the Republican nominee for statewide office. Are other Republican elected officials going to condemn the intolerance and racism, or look the other way while it becomes normalised. This is how great political parties self-destruct. Sad.”
firstpost.com
telegraphindia.com
“That is not my message. A selective picture of Longhorn fans celebrating our biggest home victory-ever-actually shows a way that Texans unite. We all support our college football teams.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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