Korean Americans slam Trump Jr. for using 'Rooftop Korean' meme to mock protests

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, posted an image on social media, Sunday (local time), which read, “Everyobody rioting until the roof starts speaking Korean,” along with the caption: “Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again!” Captured from X

Korean Americans in Los Angeles have voiced outrage over a social media post by Donald Trump Jr. that appeared to trivialize the trauma and suffering endured by their community during the 1992 LA riots.

The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA), a nonprofit organization supporting Korean immigrants in the region, issued a statement, Monday (local time), condemning Trump Jr.’s post as "deeply irresponsible" amid ongoing unrest in the city due to protests against crackdowns on immigrant.

"At a time when the situation in Los Angeles has yet to stabilize, Donald Trump Jr. demonstrated poor judgment by mocking the current situation and invoking painful memories from 33 years ago," the group said.

This response came after the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump posted an image on X (formerly known as Twitter), Sunday (local time), which read, “Everyobody rioting until the roof starts speaking Korean,” along with the caption: “Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again!”

The image featured an armed man, apparently of Korean descent, brandishing a hunting rifle on the rooftop of a building.

The photo and caption appear to be a reference to Korean American shop owners who took to their rooftops with firearms to defend their businesses during the 1992 unrest in LA's Koreatown.

During the riots, many Korean-owned businesses were left poorly protected by local police. Facing widespread looting, shop owners and employees formed vigilante groups and armed themselves in a bid to protect their livelihoods. The term "Rooftop Koreans" later emerged to describe them.

Trump Jr.’s post appears to be an attempt to justify the Trump administration’s hardline response to the ongoing protests against immigration raids, which have sparked political debate.

"As the son of an incumbent president and an influencer with approximately 15 million followers, his actions could pose serious risks during this tense period. We strongly urge that the trauma of Korean Americans must never — under any circumstances — be exploited," the KAFLA statement said.

A police officer in riot gear fires a nonlethal weapon toward protesters during a demonstration following federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, Monday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

The post also sparked backlash online, with many users accusing Trump Jr. of glorifying gun violence and mocking the Korean community.

Adding to the controversy, Hyungwon Kang, a former Los Angeles Times photojournalist and the photographer behind the image used in the post, said the photo was used without his permission.

"You're using the photo out of context. Please take it down," Kang commented on the post.

The ongoing protests in LA, sparked by a sweeping immigration raid conducted by the U.S. government last Friday, have heightened anxiety within the Korean American community.

According to media reports, the U.S. president authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to respond to the protests on Monday, just hours after the Pentagon dispatched about 700 Marines. This comes after Trump's initial deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops, Saturday.

California National Guard members stand outside the Federal Building as people gather to protest in response to federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, Monday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is closely monitoring the situation and preparing necessary measures to ensure the safety of Korean residents and travelers.

Yoon Joo-seok, the ministry's director-general for overseas Koreans and consular affairs, convened an emergency virtual meeting on Tuesday with officials from the Overseas Koreans Agency and diplomatic missions in the U.S. to assess the situation and review protection measures.

"The government is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining communication with the Korean American community. It will continue to take necessary measures to ensure the safety and protection of Korean nationals overseas," the ministry said in a statement.

As of Tuesday, no cases of arrest or injury involving Korean nationals in connection with the protests have been reported.