Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has publicly condemned a social media post by Bo French, a Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission, which targeted South Asian students celebrating a University of Texas Longhorns football victory. Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat and one of the most prominent Indian American voices in the US Congress, called the post racist and xenophobic.

What the Post Said

French shared photographs of South Asian students at a University of Texas football celebration, framing their presence as evidence that Americans were being 'displaced by foreigners,' according to a statement issued by Krishnamoorthi's office. The post drew immediate condemnation from Indian American and South Asian community groups, as well as from the congressman himself.

Krishnamoorthi's Response

'Bo French's xenophobic hate toward South Asian students is disgraceful and part of a broader rise in attacks targeting South Asian Americans across the country,' Krishnamoorthi said in a statement. 'These young people were cheering for their university, and he chose to demonise them based solely on how they look,' he added. The congressman further stated, 'South Asian Americans are as American as anyone, and this kind of hatred has no place in our politics or our country.' He also responded directly to French on social media.

A Pattern of Concern

Notably, this is the second time within days that Krishnamoorthi has spoken out against social media content he said targeted South Asian Americans. On 10 September, he condemned an official Department of Homeland Security social media post featuring a man identified as 'Mr. Singh' in a deportation-themed graphic. That graphic reportedly told the man to 'get off our roads' and warned him to 'self-deport or find out,' according to the congressman's earlier statement. Krishnamoorthi said at the time that the government should not suggest that a person's faith, heritage or identity rendered them unwelcome in the United States.

Who Is Raja Krishnamoorthi

Krishnamoorthi was born in New Delhi and raised in the United States. He represents Illinois' 8th Congressional District, which covers parts of the Chicago suburbs and has a substantial Asian American population. His repeated interventions on this issue reflect growing unease within Indian American and broader South Asian diaspora organisations about hostile political rhetoric directed at their communities in the current climate.

Broader Context

The episode comes amid increased concern among South Asian American advocacy groups about what they describe as a rise in ethnically targeted political rhetoric. Critics argue that such posts — whether from candidates for public office or from official government accounts — normalise prejudice against visible minority communities. The University of Texas students at the centre of the controversy have not been publicly identified, and neither French's campaign nor the Texas Railroad Commission has issued a public response, according to available reports.