White House proclamation for AANHPI Heritage Month rings hollow

Donald Trump's praise of AANHPI people don't match his words and actions.

OPINION

It appears the writer of the White House proclamation for AANHPI Heritage Month hasn’t been listening to his boss lately. While the official document is filled with glowing tributes to our "patriotism" and "resilience," the man in the Oval Office has been telling a very different story on the campaign trail and in the briefing room.

We’ve seen this movie before. The White House Proclamation wants to celebrate AANHPI contributions to America’s 250-year history, but those words ring hollow when they come from a leader who has spent his energy painting our communities as a threat to the very fabric of the nation.

A tale of two narratives

The gap between the proclamation’s ink and Donald Trump’s actual rhetoric is a canyon that cannot be bridged by a press release:

"Belonging" vs. The Threat to Citizenship: The 2026 proclamation speaks of Asian Americans as "integral to the American story." Yet, the Trump administration is actively working to dismantle the 14th Amendment. By vowing to end birthright citizenship via executive order, the President is signaling that the children of many AANHPI immigrants are not "true" Americans, regardless of where they were born.

"Talented Doctors" vs. "Gangsters with Laptops:" The proclamation celebrates the "talented doctors" and "technological innovators" driving our industries. Yet, Trump recently amplified a rant describing Indian and Chinese tech professionals as "gangsters with laptops" who have "robbed us blind" and "stepped on our flag."

"Strengthening the Economy" vs. "Hellholes:" While the official message claims AAPI communities "strengthened every facet of American life," Trump recently reshared content labeling the ancestral homes of millions of Americans—specifically India and China — as "hellhole[s] on the planet."

"Unity" vs. The "China Virus" Legacy: The White House calls for "Power in Unity," but we haven't forgotten the President's relentless use of terms like "China Virus" and "Kung Flu." These weren't just nicknames; they were dog whistles making it OK for the racists to emerge from their dark corners. Studies confirmed these racist references caused anti-Asian hate to surge, turning a global health crisis into a target on the backs of our elders.

The view from the edge

As the nation marks its Sestercentennial, the administration is desperate to claim the AANHPI success story as its own. But you can't honor "family and hard work" while simultaneously plotting to strip the next generation of their legal right to exist as citizens.

A proclamation is just paper if it isn't backed by respect. Until Donald Trump stops describing our community as "gangsters" and our children as "aliens," these words aren't a celebration — they’re a betrayal.

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