Overview: Public Diwali greetings on X prompted a wave of racist replies, revealing a growing strain of anti‑Indian sentiment online and in public life. Researchers recorded nearly 2,700 xenophobic posts in a single month, and incidents from Palm Bay to Irving show the abuse moving offline. Much of the hostility centers on H‑1B visas and economic resentment, while experts warn that demonization of Indian Americans could inspire violence and call for stronger platform moderation and political leadership.
“Go Back Home”: Surge of Anti‑Indian Abuse on X After Diwali Posts Exposes Rising Xenophobia
Overview: Public Diwali greetings on X prompted a wave of racist replies, revealing a growing strain of anti‑Indian sentiment online and in public life. Researchers recorded nearly 2,700 xenophobic posts in a single month, and incidents from Palm Bay to Irving show the abuse moving offline. Much of the hostility centers on H‑1B visas and economic resentment, while experts warn that demonization of Indian Americans could inspire violence and call for stronger platform moderation and political leadership.
10:03 PM, 11/16/2025Society
Online abuse after Diwali greetings highlights a broader trend
Last month, FBI Director Kash Patel’s Diwali greeting on X drew a wave of openly bigoted replies from far‑right Christian nationalist and white nationalist accounts. Responses ranged from racist memes to direct insults — one far‑right pastor told him to “Go back home and worship your sand demons,” while another reply read, “Get the f**k out of my country.” Even milder‑appearing comments were seen millions of times.
Similar hostility greeted Diwali posts from other public figures, including former U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, as well as official posts from the White House, the State Department, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
From online vitriol to real‑world incidents
Researchers say these attacks are not isolated. The Center for the Study of Organized Hate recorded a surge of anti‑Indian content on X after Elon Musk’s takeover of the platform; founder Raqib Naik reported nearly 2,700 posts promoting racism and xenophobia targeting Indians and Indian Americans in October alone. Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue described the trend bluntly: “The call is coming from inside the house.”
That surge of online hostility has spilled into public life. In Palm Bay, Florida, a city councilmember faced censure after repeatedly denigrating Indians and calling for deportations. In Irving, Texas, masked protesters carried signs reading “Don’t India My Texas” and “Deport H‑1B Visa Scammers.” Community groups have reported harassment outside Hindu temples and other targeted actions.
H‑1B visas, economic resentment, and stereotypes
Researchers and analysts say much of the online bigotry focuses on the H‑1B visa program, which disproportionately benefits Indian nationals. Far‑right commentators portray Indian immigrants as job‑stealing “scammers,” invoke caste‑ or ethnicity‑based stereotypes, mock cultural practices and recycle slurs that originated in unmoderated corners of the internet.
Those narratives are amplified by political rhetoric. Figures associated with the MAGA movement and immigration‑hardline advisors have pushed restrictive measures — including a recent $100,000 application fee for H‑1B petitions — and sometimes framed belonging in racial or heritage terms. Vice President J.D. Vance, for example, has suggested in public remarks that heritage and ancestry can affect who has a stronger claim to America.
Why Indian Americans are targeted
Experts say Indian Americans’ economic success and visibility make them a convenient scapegoat. According to Pew Research Center analysis, Indian immigrants are among the highest‑earning ethnic groups in the U.S., and many hold senior roles in government, technology, business, medicine, academia and entertainment. Rohit Chopra, co‑author of reports for the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, warned that resentment toward affluent Indian Americans can metastasize into demonization of the entire community — with the potential to inspire violence.
Firsthand accounts and community impact
Stop AAPI Hate and other organizations have collected reports of harassment and threats. Incidents reported to CNN and Stop AAPI Hate include a Georgia woman threatened with a call to ICE, a Texas worker who was screamed at and told “I hope you have a green card,” and a Virginia man who was taunted with slurs and threatened outside a restaurant.
Community leaders say the rhetoric has forced some families to consider contingency plans, such as keeping OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) documents ready, and has raised calls for greater solidarity among minority groups.
Official responses and the path forward
White House spokesman Kush Desai defended President Trump’s engagement with the Indian American community, saying the President “is a fierce defender of religious liberty and cherishes his deep and longstanding relationship with this patriotic community.” Critics argue that senior officials have not consistently or forcefully condemned anti‑Indian rhetoric coming from parts of their coalition.
Analysts urge broader recognition that racism and xenophobia can target any community and call for cross‑community solidarity, stronger moderation on social platforms, and political leadership that rejects nativist and exclusionary narratives.
Bottom line: A recent spike in anti‑Indian rhetoric online — often tied to H‑1B anxiety and political polarization — is migrating into real‑world harassment, underscoring the need for targeted protections, responsible political leadership and community solidarity.