Texas Democrat's Resurfaced Podcast Comments Ignite Social Media Firestorm
A Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives is confronting significant public backlash after racially charged remarks from a podcast appearance resurfaced and spread rapidly across social media platforms. The controversy centres on State Representative Gene Wu, who appeared as a guest on the left-leaning immigration-focused podcast Define America with Jose Antonio Vargas over a year ago.
Viral Clip Sparks Widespread Condemnation
On Saturday, the prominent right-wing X account End Wokeness posted a clip from the podcast episode, propelling Wu's comments into the viral spotlight. In the excerpt, Wu is heard stating, 'I always tell people, the day the Latino, African American, Asian and other communities realize that they share the same oppressor, is the day we start winning.' He continued, 'Because we are the majority in this country now. We have the ability to take over this country and to do what is needed for everyone, and to make things fair, but the problem is our communities are divided - they're completely divided.'
The account captioned the clip with a provocative summary: 'Rep. Gene Wu (D) goes mask off: "Non-whites share the same oppressor and we are the majority now. We can take over this country."' By Sunday, the post had garnered explosive engagement, accumulating more than seven million views, 27,000 likes, and nearly 5,000 responses in under twenty-four hours.
High-Profile Reactions and Public Outcry
The viral clip attracted attention from influential figures, including X CEO and billionaire Elon Musk, who responded succinctly with 'Shame on him.' The overwhelming majority of reactions on the platform were sharply critical, with users expressing outrage and disbelief.
One user questioned, 'Why would you immigrate to USA to be oppressed?' while another denounced the rhetoric as 'race baiting marxist CR@P.' A third commenter reflected broader frustration, writing, 'I’m still trying to figure out why Democrats are so obsessed with race.' Additional reactions accused Wu of advocating for a 'hostile takeover' and labelled his statements as 'absolutely disgusting' for a sitting representative.
The backlash extended to YouTube, where users flooded the comments section of the original podcast episode with condemnations. Remarks included 'Bro what the f**k is this racial war shit?' and 'This guy is on some bs,' illustrating the rapid spread of disapproval across multiple digital platforms.
Context and Political Background
Representative Wu serves Texas State House District 137, located in the Houston metropolitan area, and has held the position since 2013. His political career has not been without prior controversy. In August, Texas Governor Greg Abbott petitioned the state's Supreme Court to declare Wu's seat vacant. This action followed Wu's leadership among fifty Democratic House members who broke quorum by fleeing the state to delay a vote on new congressional maps.
Wu defended his actions, arguing they aligned with his constitutional oath to prevent what he described as a 'racist gerrymandered map.' He contended that only the state House possesses the authority to remove a sitting representative, not the governor or courts. Ultimately, Wu and his colleagues returned to Texas, and the redrawn map was enacted into law, concluding the immediate threat of forced vacancy.
The resurfaced podcast comments have reignited scrutiny of Wu's public statements and political stance. The Daily Mail has reached out to Wu's team for comment regarding the viral backlash, but no response has been publicly disclosed at this time. The incident underscores the enduring potency of social media in amplifying political rhetoric and shaping public discourse around sensitive issues of race and representation.
