Highlights
- A US journalist posted a now-deleted message calling for the deportation of Indians.
- The post warned of future violence against Indian-origin people and religious sites.
- The remarks triggered alarm over rising extremist and racist rhetoric online.
- The incident follows similar attacks on Indian-origin public figures in the US.
- Civil rights advocates warn such language can fuel real-world harm.
A wave of outrage has followed a now-deleted social media post by American journalist and far-right activist Matt Forney, who called for the mass deportation of Indians from the United States and warned of widespread violence against Indian-origin communities in the coming year. The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter), has drawn sharp criticism for promoting hate, fear, and collective punishment based on ethnicity.
In his post, Forney claimed that what he described as growing anti-Indian sentiment in the US would reach a “boiling point” in 2026. He alleged that Indians would be targeted for violence, with Indian-owned businesses vandalized and Hindu places of worship attacked. Framing his remarks as a warning rather than an endorsement, he nonetheless concluded by advocating a policy he labeled “Deport Every Indian,” arguing that removing an entire ethnic community was the only way to prevent unrest.
The post was later deleted, but screenshots circulated widely, prompting condemnation from social media users, community leaders, and civil rights observers. Many described the remarks as openly racist and dangerous, warning that such language can incite real-world violence. Critics also noted that suggesting collective deportation violates basic democratic principles and human rights, regardless of political disagreements over immigration policy.
This episode comes amid a broader pattern of far-right figures in the US directing hostile rhetoric at Indian-origin individuals. In a separate recent controversy, extremist personality Nick Fuentes launched racist attacks against Indian-American politician Vivek Ramaswamy following a conservative conference speech. Ramaswamy had argued that American identity should be defined by shared values rather than ancestry, a stance that drew anger from white nationalist circles.
Fuentes responded by questioning Ramaswamy’s belonging in the US, using derogatory language and telling him to “go back” to India. He accused the politician of failing to assimilate and criticized his views on citizenship and national identity. The remarks were widely denounced as xenophobic and emblematic of exclusionary ideologies that reject multiculturalism outright.
Experts warn that such rhetoric, especially when amplified by individuals with large online followings, can normalize prejudice and escalate tensions. Advocacy groups stress that language predicting or implying violence against specific communities should be treated seriously, as it can embolden extremists and create an atmosphere of fear.
Indian-American organizations have called for stronger responses from social media platforms, urging them to enforce policies against hate speech consistently and transparently. They also emphasized the importance of political leaders speaking out clearly against racism, regardless of the target.
As the US heads into another contentious election cycle, incidents like this highlight growing concerns over extremist discourse in public spaces. Observers caution that failing to challenge such narratives risks further marginalizing minority communities and undermining social cohesion. For many, the controversy serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences that can follow when hate is allowed to spread unchecked.
