A 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman at a Hindu temple in Sugar Land, Texas, has become the centre of a fresh political and religious controversy after conservative YouTuber Jesse Hughes posted that the monument would be torn down “when we win”.
Hughes shared a photograph of the Statue of Union, located at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, on X and wrote: “Btw, when we win, we are tearing this down.” He did not explain what election or political victory he was referring to. The post has since drawn criticism from Hindu Americans and others concerned about religious intolerance.
The comments have not been accompanied by any publicly documented government order to remove the statue in the sources reviewed for this report. The immediate controversy is centred on Hughes’ social-media statement and the reaction it generated.
Veteran challenges call targeting Hindu place of worship
Ruchir Bakshi, who identifies himself as a Hindu American and US Army combat veteran, responded publicly to Hughes’ post.
Bakshi argued that a call to dismantle a Hindu religious site amounted to a threat against a religious community. His response focused on the principle of religious freedom and the place of Hindu Americans within US society.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America also expressed concern over what it described as religious bigotry online, according to Gulf News’ report on the dispute.
The episode has emerged during a period of heightened political discussion in Texas over immigration, identity and the state’s growing South Asian population. A separate controversy earlier in September involved Republican Texas Railroad Commissioner nominee Bo French, whose social-media posts about South Asian students at the University of Texas at Austin drew criticism from members of both parties. Reuters reported that university enrollment data did not support the suggestion that international students dominated the campus.
What is the Statue of Union?
The Statue of Union stands at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple on Synott Road in Sugar Land, near Houston.
The temple’s official Statue of Union website describes it as a 90-foot Panchaloha Abhaya Hanuman and says it is North America’s tallest statue of Lord Hanuman. The monument was conceived under the guidance of Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji and was named the Statue of Union in reference to Hanuman’s role in bringing Lord Rama and Sita together in the Ramayana.
The statue was inaugurated in August 2024. The project’s official site records the inauguration on August 19, 2024, while contemporary reporting placed the main consecration ceremony on August 18.
At the time, the 90-foot monument was reported as a major new landmark for the Indian-American and Hindu community around Houston. The Indian Express reported that the statue was about 35 kilometres from Houston and described it as the tallest Hanuman statue outside India.
The statue faced opposition after its inauguration
The latest dispute is not the first controversy surrounding the monument.
In August 2024, around 25 members of the Humble-based Awakening Generation Church gathered near the statue to pray and preach. The Houston Chronicle reported that temple leaders subsequently considered additional security measures and the installation of cameras.
The episode remained non-violent, according to the Houston Chronicle’s reporting, but temple representatives said they were concerned about the possibility of future disturbances.
The latest social-media dispute has therefore brought renewed attention to a religious landmark that had already become part of wider discussions over religious expression in the Houston-area community.
No confirmed demolition plan
Hughes’ statement has generated considerable online discussion, but the available reporting does not establish that the Statue of Union is scheduled for demolition or that authorities have ordered its removal.
For now, the confirmed development is the social-media call for its removal and the subsequent public backlash.
The statue remains part of the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple complex in Sugar Land. The official Statue of Union website continues to provide information about the monument, its history and events at the temple.
For Hindu Americans and the wider Indian-American community, the dispute has placed a prominent religious landmark back into the national conversation at a time when questions surrounding immigration, cultural identity and religious expression are also featuring prominently in Texas politics.
What happened to the Hanuman statue in Texas?
A 90-foot Hanuman statue at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land became the subject of a social-media controversy after YouTuber Jesse Hughes said it would be torn down “when we win”. He did not specify what victory he meant.
Where is the 90-foot Hanuman statue located?
The Statue of Union is located at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple on Synott Road in Sugar Land, Texas, near Houston.
When was the Texas Hanuman statue inaugurated?
The statue was inaugurated and consecrated in August 2024, with the main consecration ceremony reported on August 18.
How tall is the Statue of Union?
It is 90 feet tall. Its official website describes it as North America’s tallest statue of Lord Hanuman.
Who called for the statue to be torn down?
Conservative YouTuber Jesse Hughes made the statement on X, writing that “when we win” the statue would be torn down. He did not specify what victory he was referring to.
Has Texas ordered the Hanuman statue to be removed?
The sources reviewed for this article do not establish any official government order to remove the statue. The current controversy stems from Hughes’ social-media statement.
Has the statue faced controversy before?
Yes. About 25 members of a local church protested near the statue in August 2024, shortly after its inauguration. Temple leaders later considered additional security measures.
Why is the statue significant to the Hindu community?
The temple’s organisers describe the Statue of Union as a spiritual and cultural landmark representing Hanuman’s qualities of strength, devotion and selfless service.
