- Eric Trump referred to anti-immigration protesters in Los Angeles as “mongoloids.”
- Term widely condemned as an ableist and racist slur rooted in discrimination against people with Down syndrome.
- Social media exploded with condemnation, calling the comment “disgusting” and “cruel.”
- Eric Trump made the comment on Benny Johnson’s conservative video podcast.
- Critics say the Trump family continues to promote inflammatory rhetoric for attention.
LOS ANGELES — Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump, is facing widespread backlash after using a highly offensive and outdated slur during an interview Monday while criticizing protesters in Los Angeles.
Speaking with conservative influencer Benny Johnson, Eric Trump referred to demonstrators protesting immigration crackdowns as “mongoloids,” a term that has long been considered both racist and ableist. The comment came during a segment where Trump was denouncing property damage allegedly caused by protestors, including the smashing of police car windows.
Eric Trump describes LA protesters as "mongoloids" pic.twitter.com/o0gPMw0UAk
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 16, 2025
The term “mongoloid” has historically been used to demean individuals with Down syndrome and is now universally rejected by the medical community, disability rights advocates, and civil society at large. Its usage by a high-profile political figure triggered instant condemnation online.
Why the Term “Mongoloids” Is Offensive
The term “mongoloids” is widely recognized today as a highly offensive slur with two historically harmful meanings:
- Ableist Slur: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, “mongoloid” was used in medical literature to refer to individuals with Down syndrome. This classification, based on racist pseudoscience, wrongly likened their facial features to those of people from Mongolia. The World Health Organization eliminated the term in 1965 due to its dehumanizing nature.
- Racial Typology: The word was also part of obsolete anthropological frameworks that divided people into categories like “Caucasoid,” “Negroid,” and “Mongoloid.” These classifications, now fully discredited and considered racist, attempted to group people of East Asian, Central Asian, and Indigenous American descent under a single, inaccurate label.
In both contexts, the term is seen today as deeply discriminatory, hurtful, and unacceptable in modern discourse.
Social Media Reaction
Users on X (formerly Twitter) expressed outrage, with many demanding accountability and urging media outlets to stop giving platforms to members of the Trump family for hate-laced commentary.
- @AnatolijUkraine: “The Trump brand isn’t just toxic. It’s proudly cruel. When do we say enough?”
- @AnthonyAndrews: “We need to do a media blackout when any of them go onto podcasts.”
- @UrbanistaRamon: “Sounds like he has personal knowledge of the subject.”
Neither Eric Trump nor the Trump campaign has issued a formal apology or statement as of Tuesday morning.
Context and Fallout
The protest in question occurred over the weekend in Los Angeles, where demonstrators voiced opposition to intensified immigration enforcement under President Trump’s administration. While some incidents of vandalism were reported, civil rights groups say the overwhelming majority of the demonstration was peaceful.
Eric Trump’s remark is the latest in a string of controversial statements from members of the Trump family. Critics say such language normalizes hate and distracts from real policy debate. Advocates are now calling for media accountability and greater sensitivity in public discourse.
(with inputs from social media reports and podcast footage)
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