The leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) on 16 October 2026 directly blamed the Trump administration's rhetoric and appointments for fuelling anti-South Asian hate, following the foiling of a white-supremacist plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. The suspect, Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, Illinois, was taken into custody after local law enforcement received a tip about the potential attack, according to FBI Chicago, which announced the arrest on Wednesday.

What CAPAC Said

The statement was signed by CAPAC Chair Grace Meng, First Vice Chair Mark Takano, Second Vice Chair Jill Tokuda, Whip Ami Bera, Freshman Representative Suhas Subramanyam, and Chair Emerita Judy Chu. Bera and Subramanyam are Indian American.

'We also cannot ignore the Trump administration's role in peddling anti-South Asian hate,' the lawmakers said. They cited the appointment of 'a man who said to never trust a chinaman or Indian,' the posting of 'white supremacist messaging on official government accounts,' and the echoing of the Great Replacement Theory — which the caucus described as 'a dangerous far-right ideology that has been referenced by extremists to justify mass shootings and acts of racial terror.' The statement did not name the appointee it quoted or the government accounts it referred to.

The caucus also alleged that the administration 'weakened efforts to combat domestic terrorism by cutting FBI staff tasked with monitoring threats posed by white supremacists and militia groups.'

The Hate Speech Data

The lawmakers cited a September 2026 report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, which found that anti-South Asian hate speech surged by 240% on X over the past two years, 'driven in part by influential figures who amplify racist rhetoric, scapegoat immigrant communities, and allow bigotry and xenophobia to be pushed further into the mainstream.'

Notably, the FBI, the Justice Department, its Civil Rights Division, and the White House had not posted on the plot on X as of Thursday.

The Alleged Plot and the Suspect

The caucus said it was 'horrified that a white supremacist attempted to carry out a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, where CAPAC Member Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and his family worship.' The alleged perpetrator, described by lawmakers as a 'self-proclaimed Neo-Nazi,' reportedly 'fantasized about murdering Indian people, wrote a South Asian slur on a gas canister, and described Indian, Jewish, and African American people as subhumans.' The caucus thanked the suspect's coworkers who alerted authorities and commended law enforcement for preventing the attack.

Bipartisan Congressional Response

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a post on X: 'Anti-Indian and anti-Hindu rhetoric is at an alarming level in America, and now we are seeing that hatred turn into violence. Bigotry against any community has no place in America.' Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth called the plot 'absolutely horrifying,' while Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said: 'We must condemn anti-Indian hate and violence, and do everything we can to stop it.'

Republicans also spoke out. Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia, co-chair of the House India Caucus, called the plot 'unequivocally wrong,' stating: 'Violence toward anyone based on a religion, political orientation, or race is evil.' Illinois Republican Darin LaHood said the person behind the attempt 'must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.'

Rep. Ro Khanna, the other India Caucus co-chair, said: 'As a Hindu American, I am angered by the attempted mass shooting at a Temple by a white supremacist.' Rep. Pramila Jayapal noted that 'attacks on South Asians have been on the rise, online and by leaders in our own government.' Rep. Bill Foster, whose district includes Aurora, said: 'Everyone deserves to worship in peace and safety.' India's Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra also condemned the plot.

Community and International Solidarity

The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) expressed solidarity with the Hindu American community. Executive Director Kiran Kaur Gill said: 'The targeting of a Hindu temple is not only an act of anti-Indian hatred, but also an attack on the fundamental promise of religious freedom in America.' Israel's Consul General in Chicago, Elad Strohmayer, also condemned the plot in a post on X, saying: 'To the Hindu community in Illinois: we stand firmly with you.' The City of Aurora posted on X under the headline 'Hate Has No Place In The City Of Aurora,' affirming that 'Aurora's strength lies in its diversity.'

This is the latest in a series of incidents that has elevated concern among South Asian and Hindu American communities about their safety at houses of worship. With the arrest made and multiple investigations underway, lawmakers from both parties have called for stronger federal protections for religious sites.