'When we win, we are tearing this down': MAGA activist on 90-foot Texas Hanuman statue; US Army responds
A political controversy has erupted in Texas after conservative YouTuber and MAGA activist Jesse Hughes posted that a 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman at a Hindu temple would be torn down "when we win".
Hughes shared a photograph of the statue, known as the Statue of Union, at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas, on X. He did not specify what he meant by "when we win". The post comes ahead of the November US midterm elections and amid wider political debates over immigration, religion and the growing South Asian community in Texas.
US Army veteran Ruchir Bakshi responds
The post drew a strong response from Ruchir Bakshi, who identifies himself as a Hindu American and US Army combat veteran.
Bakshi said he had served alongside people from different religious backgrounds and argued that political differences should not be used to target a religious community or its places of worship.
He also said that he did not serve in the US military so that Hindu Americans could be targeted because of their faith. His comments were subsequently supported by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA).
90-foot Hanuman statue in Texas
The statue, officially known as the Statue of Union, stands at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land. It was consecrated in August 2024 and stands 90 feet tall.
The statue has previously attracted protests from some Christian activists following its inauguration. The latest controversy has brought renewed attention to debates over religious representation and Hindu places of worship in the US.
Bo French controversy adds to political debate
The latest row comes days after another controversy involving Republican Texas Railroad Commission candidate Bo French and South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin.
French shared a photograph of South Asian students celebrating during a University of Texas football game and made comments questioning the presence of South Asians at the university. His post drew criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, including US Senator John Cornyn and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows. French defended his comments by arguing that immigration and university admissions policies should be debated.
The two incidents have brought renewed attention to discussions around immigration, race, religious freedom and the growing Indian-American and South Asian population in Texas.
The Hanuman statue controversy remains centred on Hughes' social media statement, while his reference to "when we win" has not been further explained publicly.
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