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Trump’s China election-interference claims spark scapegoat fears among Asian-Americans
US president’s prime-time address draws sharp backlash from immigrants who fear a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes
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President Donald Trump’s allegations of US election manipulation by China have triggered concern among Chinese-American community leaders and citizens, some of whom fear they will be targeted as “scapegoats” if the midterm election results are deemed unsatisfactory by the White House.
In a fiery prime-time address to the nation on Thursday evening, Trump delivered an unprecedented broadside against China, accusing Beijing of orchestrating the “largest compromise of election data in history” and declaring an end to US complacency in the face of “Chinese interference”.
The speech, which contained sharp domestic warnings ahead of the November midterm elections, was one of the most confrontational White House addresses of Trump’s second term, directly hitting Beijing while pressing for changes to “protect the integrity of America’s elections” and defending US military actions.
Annie Guo, who was born in China’s Fujian province and migrated to the United States more than two decades ago, said she was worried that the Chinese immigrant community – particularly first-generation migrants – would again be targeted following Trump’s speech.
“First-generation Chinese immigrants like me are the easy targets because we still have many family ties in China. Whenever Trump doesn’t do well in the election, he needs a scapegoat. We are likely going to be the primary target again this time. It is like our original sin,” said Guo, a mother of two living in New York.
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