US President Donald Trump’s party colleague in Texas has stirred controversy with his comments opposing a 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman, known as the Statue of Union, in Sugar Land, Texas. Alexander Duncan, a GOP member, objected to the monument at the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple, calling the United States a “Christian nation.”
“Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation,” Duncan wrote on X, while sharing a video of the monument. In a follow-up post, he cited verses from Exodus 20:3-4 of the Bible, which prohibit idol worship.
In another post on X, he wrote, “Let us never forget that we are one nation under God, and that God is the one true living God, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
Let us never forget that we are one nation under God, and that God is the one true living God, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
— Alexander Duncan (@AlexDuncanTX) September 23, 2025
Backlash From Hindu Community
Duncan’s remarks drew sharp criticism online. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) described the comments as “anti-Hindu and inflammatory,” and formally reported the incident to the Texas Republican Party. “Hello @TexasGOP, will you be disciplining your senate candidate from your party who openly contravenes your own guidelines against discrimination—not to mention disrespect for the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause?” the group posted.
Social media users also pushed back, highlighting America’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. One user, Jordan Crowder, pointed out: “Just because you’re not Hindu doesn’t make it false. The Vedas were written almost 2000 years before Jesus walked the earth… It would be wise to honour and research the religion that predates and influences yours.”
Unveiled in 2024, the 90-foot Statue of Union is among the tallest Hindu monuments in the United States and was envisioned by spiritual leader Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji. Standing as the third-tallest statue in the country, it has become a landmark of cultural and religious significance.
