A podcast clip circulating online shows Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu urging Latino, Black, Asian, and other minority groups to recognize their “shared oppressor” and capitalize on their growing demographic majority to “take over this country.”
Wu, who was born in Guangzhou, China, and later settled in Odessa, Texas, represents House District 137 in southwest Houston, a seat he has held since 2012, and was elected the Texas House Democratic caucus chair in December 2024.
The 30-second clip stems from a December 31, 2024, interview on the “Define American” podcast with Jose Antonio Vargas. In it, Wu states: “The day the Latino, African American, Asian, and other communities realize 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.” He adds that “the powers that be” have worked to keep these groups divided, seeing each other as competitors rather than allies against common oppressors.
Former Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi described Wu’s words as “advocacy for white genocide,” and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called Wu a “radical racist who hates millions of Texans just because they’re white.” Sen. Ted Cruz labeled the entire Democratic Party as being “built on bigotry,” while Rep. Chip Roy demanded Wu’s resignation and removal from leadership, accusing him of “open racism toward white people.” Additionally, Aaron Reitz, the Paxton-endorsed Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General, vowed to pursue revoking Wu’s U.S. citizenship if elected, claiming Wu concealed “anti-American sentiment” during his naturalization.
Wu responded by saying that his reference to an “oppressor” meant Republicans and their policies, not any racial group, saying Republicans have “spent the past 50 years beating down communities.” However, critics dismissed the explanation, seeing that the original phrasing, like his listing all non-White racial groups as being on one side, pitted against (presumably) Whites on the other side. In addition to his specific wording calling for a “takeover,” he revealed the true meaning of the message: non-Whites should band together to “take over” America from White people.
Furthermore, Wu has historically opposed all immigration restriction measures in the Texas House, including the current ban on sanctuary cities, which prohibits Texas cities from refusing to assist in removing dangerous illegal aliens if asked by the federal government. During the most recent sanctuary cities debate, Wu highlighted how he represents a mix of refugees, citizens, and undocumented individuals in his district, positioning himself as a defender of communities of foreigners. Wu has also fought multiple bills restricting land purchases by agents of foreign nations like China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea.
Critics have also pointed to Wu’s pricey education at St. Thomas’ Episcopal School in Houston, a private institution with annual tuition over $30,000 a year, as evidence of his disconnect from the marginalized communities he claims to champion.
Even though Wu is now trying to rebrand the clip as a partisan hit job, it’s a retelling of the pitch Democrats usually keep between the lines; to win, they will build a non-White demographic majority through mass immigration, and then use those demographics to “take over” the country.
