A newly circulated podcast clip from late 2024 has ignited intense criticism toward Texas State Rep. Gene Wu, who urged Latino, Black, Asian, and other minority communities to unite against what he called a shared “oppressor.” Wu also claimed these groups have the numbers to “take over this country,” triggering swift condemnation from conservative leaders across Texas.
The comments came from a December 31, 2024, episode of the “Define American” podcast, hosted by Antonio Vargas. In the discussion, Vargas suggested that the political future of the United States may be shaped by Texas. When asked for his view, Wu argued that modern immigration politics are increasingly influenced by fears among “White people” about becoming a racial and political minority.
“The scary thing for me is that what is driving this newest round of anti-immigrant sentiment is purely a sense of White nationalism,” Wu said.
“That there is a sense of, ‘America really just belongs to White people,’ that this was that a lot of people believe that God gave America to White people to rule, and that any time that immigrants, minorities make progress in this country, that that is seen as a slight against them.”
Wu’s Remarks on Minority Unity Resurface
Throughout the interview, Vargas and Wu discussed racial demographics in Texas. Both agreed that White residents are either already a minority or close to becoming one. Wu clarified that White people currently make up the majority of citizens eligible to vote, but he emphasized the demographic shift underway.
Turning to his majority-Latino district, the host asked Wu about the dynamics between Latino and Asian communities. Wu argued that these groups, along with African Americans, share more common ground than they realize.
“I think you’ve hit exactly the right point,” Wu said. “It’s not just Latinos. It’s not just Asians. It’s not just African Americans. It’s everybody. Right? We, our country and the forces that be, the powers that be, have spent tremendous time, effort and money to make sure that those groups are never united, that they always see each other as enemies, as competitors, without ever realizing that they share one thing in common, that their oppressors all are the same. The oppression comes from one place.”
He went further, adding, “I always tell people the day the Latino, African-American, Asian and other communities realize that they are, that they share the same oppressor is the day we start winning, 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.”
His remarks sparked immediate backlash once they resurfaced on social media.
Critics Call Wu’s Comments Racist and Divisive
Prominent Texas Republicans slammed Wu for promoting racial division. Some accused him of encouraging hostility toward White Americans, while others claimed the comments crossed into advocating “White genocide.”
“Gene Wu is a radical racist who hates millions of Texans just because they’re White. This is who the modern Democrat Party is,” Texas Attorney General and Senate candidate Ken Paxton wrote.
Former Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi added, “This clip is being widely circulated for its advocacy for White genocide. People need to realize that this isn’t some random Democrat backbencher. This is the Texas House Democrat caucus LEADER.”
Sen. Ted Cruz wrote, “The Democrat party is built on bigotry.”
Rep. Chip Roy called for Wu’s resignation, saying, “Unlike many Democrats, he admits his racism against White people and call to ‘take over this country.’ He should resign or the TX House should strip him of any power. Another reason to pass my PAUSE Act. Stop importing people who hate you.”
Wu Pushes Back, Claims He Meant “Republicans”
Following the uproar, Wu attempted to clarify his comments, arguing that the “oppressor” he referenced was not White people but Republicans. However, earlier portions of the interview did include explicit references to “White people” and racial anxieties around demographic change.
Journalist Evan Mintz, who reviewed the full interview, noted that “nowhere in the clip does Wu talk about White people,” but he added that Wu had mentioned them before the excerpt in question.
Mintz said he contacted Wu directly for clarification. “Just to clarify, I even called up Wu to ask who, exactly, he meant by ‘shared oppressor.’ His answer: Republicans.”
Wu told him, “It is undeniable that Republicans have spent the past 50 years beating down communities.”
Mintz remarked that some Republicans addressed the actual substance of Wu’s comments, criticizing him for dividing Americans into competing racial subgroups. He added, “which, yes, he did do.”
Wu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
