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Asian-American groups fear Trump’s escalating rhetoric will fuel prejudice, racism in US
Community leaders warn US president’s explosive China election-interference allegations may see rise in anti-Asian hate crimes
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Mark Magnierin New York
Asian-American groups on Friday slammed US President Donald Trump’s speech delivered this week as a dangerous threat to citizens of US minority communities already facing attacks and hostility during troubled and deeply partisan times, even as China hawks praised its message and tone.
On Thursday during a prime-time address from the East Room of the White House, Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims that Beijing was interfering in US elections, citing his suspicion of what he termed “China’s sinister election meddling” and “the largest compromise of election data in history”.
Much of the voter registration data in the previously classified reports that the president cited is disputed and is not new, analysts said.
The speech – coming four months before a high-stakes midterm election amid an unpopular war and record-low polling numbers – raised concern that he could attempt to alter or overturn the results even as he repeated unproven claims that he won the 2020 election.
China’s foreign ministry dismissed Trump’s comments as factually wrong, aimed at “vilifying China”, while Chinese-American groups said his conspiracy theories threaten to fan an already tense domestic situation.
“This is an extension of racism and xenophobic behaviour,” said Joanna Yang Qing Derman, civil rights and national security director with civic group Asian-American Advancing Justice, part of a grass roots network of over 300 community groups.
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