A MAGA activist has threatened to tear down a 90-foot Hindu statue in Texas if his side wins, prompting a fierce response from a Hindu-American US Army veteran as the state heads towards an election.
Conservative YouTuber Jesse Hughes shared a photograph of the Statue of Union at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land on X with the caption, 'When we win, we are tearing this down.' Hughes did not explain what he meant by winning or who would carry out the demolition.
Jesse Hughes Targets Texas Hindu Landmark
The Statue of Union stands 90 feet (27.4 metres) tall at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple and depicts Lord Hanuman, one of the most revered figures in Hinduism. The temple describes it as North America's tallest statue of Hanuman.
The monument was unveiled in August 2024 and reportedly cost about $8 million (£6.04 million). It was built as a religious and cultural landmark for the Hindu community in the Houston area.
The statement has now brought the statue into a political controversy, with Hughes' post specifically appearing to target a place of Hindu worship.
Btw, when we win, we are tearing this down. pic.twitter.com/KnDOnuAGP5
— Jesse Hughes ✝️🇺🇸 (@JesseHughesNC) September 20, 2026
Army Veteran Hits Back at Threat
Ruchir Bakshi, who described himself as a US Army combat veteran and Hindu-American, responded forcefully to Hughes' remarks during the Firstpost America podcast.
'I didn't put on that uniform, leave my family and go to war, so some third-rate talk show guy could announce that when his side wins, they're coming for my religion,' Bakshi said.
He recalled serving alongside people from different religious backgrounds, including Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists and other Hindus.
'I served with Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists and other Hindus. Nobody pulled rank on God before we went outside the wire,' Bakshi said. 'Some of those men never came home.'
Bakshi argued that religious liberty should apply equally to Hindu Americans, adding that they work, pay taxes, raise families and serve the country.
Hanuman Statue Faced Protest Before
More than two dozen protesters from a local church demonstrated outside the temple during the week the statue was unveiled in August 2024. Some protesters described Hanuman as a demon god.
Temple leaders subsequently hired security guards and installed cameras following the demonstrations.
The temple presents the Statue of Union differently, describing Hanuman as a symbol of strength, devotion and service. The monument's name refers to Hanuman's role in bringing Lord Rama and Sita together in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
Texas Election Adds Political Tension
The report also highlighted Republican Railroad Commissioner nominee Beau French's post about a University of Texas football crowd that appeared predominantly South Asian. French called the situation a problem and later claimed Texas families were being disadvantaged by universities prioritising foreigners.
More than 80 per cent of UT Austin students are Texas residents, while international students make up 4.3 per cent. French faced criticism from Republicans including Senator John Cornyn, strategist Karl Rove and Texas House Energy Resources Committee Chair Drew Darby, who called his remarks 'racism, plain and simple'.
Against that backdrop, Hughes' threat has brought fresh attention to religious freedom, political rhetoric and the place of South Asian Americans in Texas.
