Donald Trump Draws Praise By Condemning ‘Barbaric Violence’ Against Hindus And Minorities In Bangladesh

United States (US) president-hopeful Donald Trump has strongly condemned the “barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos.” 

In a post on X that garnered more than 2.2 lakh ‘likes’, 14,000 comments, and more than half a million reposts (as of writing this), Trump also promised protection to Hindu Americans “against the anti-religion agenda of the radical left.”

The US presidential candidate, who also held what’s inarguably the most powerful position in the world from 2017 to 2021, is the first world leader to speak out against violence against religious minorities in Islamic Bangladesh. 

Bangladeshi minorities, especially Hindus, were subjected to horrific attacks immediately after the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina regime. Hindu homes and business establishments were looted and torched, Hindu places of worship desecrated and vandalised, and Hindu women abducted and raped by Muslims. 

The caretaker government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has tried to underplay the violence and accused the Indian media that highlighted the attacks on Hindus of exaggeration. 

Yunus, who is perceived to be soft on Islamist fundamentalists, has tried to explain away the attacks as part of the public backlash against Awami League supporters. 

Hindus, Yunus lamely explained, have been Awami League supporters. Since the masses had suffered a lot under the Awami League over the last 14.5 years (since Hasina came to power in January 2009) and Hasina's fall provided a chance for people to seek retribution for their sufferings and persecution, Awami League supporters were attacked. It was a mere coincidence that Hindus, being Awami League supporters, faced attacks. 

But Yunus' glib explanation is a patently false one. Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh were carried out by Muslim fundamentalists and were systematic in nature. Hindus in Bangladesh have rejected Yunus’ justification for the attacks on them. 

What gives the lie to Yunus’ assertion is that many Muslim leaders, functionaries, and supporters of the Awami League were also attacked and even killed, but not in the name of religion.

The attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh have not evoked any condemnation or even concern from Western nations, some of whom are strong supporters of Yunus and have celebrated his ascension to power.

Trump has now broken ranks with other leaders of the Western world with his condemnation of the attacks on Hindus. Trump also criticised outgoing US President Joe Biden and his Democrat rival Kamala Harris for not speaking out against or preventing the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. 

“It (the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh) would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America. They have been a disaster from Israel to Ukraine to our own Southern Border, but we will Make America Strong Again and bring back Peace through Strength,” said Trump in his post. 

Trump further promised Hindu Americans that he would “fight for your freedom.”

“Under my administration, we will also strengthen our great partnership with India and my good friend, Prime Minister Modi,” he said in his post. 

“Kamala Harris will destroy your (Hindu Americans’) small businesses with more regulations and higher taxes. By contrast, I cut taxes, cut regulations, unleashed American energy, and built the greatest economy in history. We will do it again, bigger and better than ever before—and we will Make America Great Again,” he said. 

Trump ended his post with Diwali greetings. “Happy Diwali to All. I hope the Festival of Lights leads to the Victory of Good over Evil!” he wrote.

Trump’s post was quickly welcomed by Bangladeshi Hindus and organisations representing them. An overwhelming majority of the comments that the post evoked were laudatory in nature.

Apart from Hindus from around the world, a huge number of white Christians also praised Trump for speaking out boldly against persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.