Tearing This Down: Conservative Jesse Hughes’ Post Takes Aim At Texas Hanuman Statue

A 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman in Texas has become the focus of an online debate after conservative commentator Jesse Hughes shared a cryptic post suggesting the monument could be torn down.

“Btw, when we win, we are tearing this down,” Hughes wrote on social media, sharing an image of the Statue of Union at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land.

The post has drawn attention because the monument is one of the most prominent Hindu landmarks in the United States. It has previously faced criticism from people objecting to its presence in Texas.

Hughes’ reference to “when we win” has also raised questions over what political outcome he was referring to. Texas has been under full Republican control, with Republicans holding the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature, since 2003.

Standing 90 feet tall, the Statue of Union depicts Lord Hanuman, a Hindu deity. The Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple describes it as North America’s tallest Hanuman statue, representing strength, devotion and selfless service.

The monument was inaugurated in August 2024 and was named the Statue of Union because of Hanuman’s role in the Ramayana, where he helps reunite Lord Rama and Sita.

The statue has faced controversy since its inauguration. In 2024, Christian protesters gathered outside the temple and objected to the Hindu deity’s presence, with some using derogatory language.

The controversy resurfaced in 2025 when Texas Republican leader Alexander Duncan criticised the monument on social media, calling it a statue of a “false Hindu God” and arguing that the US was a Christian nation. The Hindu American Foundation criticised his remarks as anti-Hindu rhetoric.

Hughes’ post has now reignited debate over religious freedom, Hindu institutions and cultural identity in Texas, which has a growing Indian-American population. Recent Census data cited by the Houston Chronicle puts Texas’ population at roughly 31 million, with about 300,000 Indian immigrants.

The post also drew criticism from Indian-American voices. New Yorker columnist Ishaan Tharoor questioned the apparent hostility towards a Hanuman statue, while US Army veteran Ruchir Bakshi, who identifies as Hindu American, said religious freedom should apply equally to Hindu Americans. Bakshi described Hughes’ “when we win” remark as a threat and questioned what “winning” meant in the US.