A 2026 survey found that since early 2025, one in four Indian-Americans has faced racial slurs
A post by Carl Wheless, a disabled US Army veteran, has gone viral on X, drawing widespread attention for its defence of Indian-Americans. At a time when many online discussions have been critical of Indians, his remarks have stood out for taking the opposite stance, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Wheless, who served nearly 20 years in the US Army, said he recently became involved with Indian users on the platform. What began as a chance interaction, he explained, turned into a meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences. He described Indians he engaged with as “interesting, sharp and resilient”.
However, he also highlighted what he saw as growing hostility towards Indian-Americans. According to Wheless, many highly skilled immigrants who came to the US legally are being mocked, stereotyped and treated as outsiders. He criticised those who claim to oppose identity politics but, in his view, are creating divisions based on origin, religion and background.
-
In his post, he referred to this trend as a “new caste system”, arguing that some people believe being born in the US gives them a higher status
-
He stressed that America was never meant to operate in this way and warned against what he called “tribalism”
The post has sparked mixed reactions online. While many users supported his views and praised his stance, others disagreed or warned him about backlash on social media.
Concerns over anti-Indian sentiment are backed by recent data from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. A 2026 survey found that since early 2025, one in four Indian-Americans has faced racial slurs. The report also described the United States as a major centre of online anti-Indian abuse, with some individuals avoiding visible cultural symbols in public due to fear of harassment.
