A Texas Republican leader has sparked controversy after making disparaging remarks about a newly built 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman in Sugar Land, Texas. The statue, known as the Statue of Union, was inaugurated in 2024 at the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple and is one of the tallest Hindu monuments in the United States.

Alexander Duncan, a Republican figure reportedly linked with the party of former U.S. President Donald Trump, took to social media platform X to criticize the installation. Sharing a video of the statue, Duncan wrote: “Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation.”

He later cited verses from the Bible’s Exodus 20:3-4, declaring that idol worship violated Christian values. His remarks immediately triggered widespread backlash on social media.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) condemned the comments as “anti-Hindu and inflammatory,” urging the Republican Party of Texas to take disciplinary action against Duncan. In a statement, HAF asked: “Hello @TexasGOP, will you be disciplining your senate candidate who openly contravenes your own guidelines against discrimination—not to mention disrespect for the 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause?”

Supporters of interfaith harmony also joined the debate. One X user, Jordan Crowder, noted: “Just because you’re not Hindu doesn’t make it false. The Vedas were written almost 2000 years before Jesus and have influenced many traditions. Respect and research go further than hate.”

The Statue of Union was envisioned by spiritual leader Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji as a symbol of inclusiveness and harmony. Currently the third-tallest statue in the U.S., it has become a landmark for the Indian-American diaspora and a growing attraction for interfaith communities across the country.