US presidential hopeful Donald Trump strongly condemned the “barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians and other minorities who are being attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a state of total chaos.”

In a discussion that has garnered more than 2.2 million likes, 14,000 comments and more than half a million reposts (as of this writing), Trump also promised to protect Hindu-Americans “against the anti-religion agenda of the radical left”.

The US presidential candidate, who also held what is arguably the world’s most powerful position from 2017 to 2021, is the first world leader to speak out against violence against religious minorities in Islamic Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s minorities, especially Hindus, were subjected to horrific attacks immediately after the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina regime. Hindu homes and businesses were looted and burned, Hindu places of worship desecrated and vandalized, and Hindu women kidnapped and raped by Muslims.

Bangladesh’s caretaker government, led by Muhammad Yunus, tried to play down the violence and accused the Indian media of exaggerating the attacks on Hindus.

Yunus, who is perceived to be soft on Islamist fundamentalists, tried to explain the attacks as part of the public backlash against supporters of the Awami League.

The Hindus, Yunus explained lamely, were supporters of the Awami League. As the masses have suffered a lot under the Awami League for the past 14.5 years (since Hasina came to power in January 2009) and Hasina’s downfall has given the people a chance to seek retribution for their suffering and persecution, Awami League supporters have come under attack. It was a mere coincidence that Hindus, being supporters of the Awami League, faced attacks.

But Yunus’s simple explanation is patently false. The attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh were carried out by Muslim fundamentalists and were systematic in nature. Bangladeshi Hindus rejected Yunus’s justification for the attacks on them.

What gives the lie to Yunus’ claim is that many Muslim leaders, functionaries and supporters of the Awami League were also attacked and even killed, but not in the name of religion.

Also, only Hindu places of worship were attacked and desecrated and those attacks were purely communal in nature.

Attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh have drawn no condemnation or even concern from Western nations, some of which are strong supporters of Yunus and have celebrated his rise to power.

Trump has now broken ranks with other Western world leaders in condemning attacks on Hindus. Trump also criticized incumbent US President Joe Biden and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris for not speaking out against or preventing attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

“Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh would never have happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe ignored Hindus around the world and in America. They have been a disaster from Israel to Ukraine to our own southern border, but we will make America strong again and bring back peace through strength,” Trump said in his post.

Trump also promised Hindu-Americans that he would “fight for your freedom.”

“Under my administration, we will also strengthen our great partnership with India and with my good friend Prime Minister Modi,” he said in his post.

“Kamala Harris will destroy your (Hindu American) small businesses with more regulations and higher taxes. By contrast, we cut taxes, cut regulations, unleashed American energy, and built the greatest economy in history. We will do it again, bigger and better than ever before – and we will make America Great again,” he said.

Trump ended his post with Diwali greetings. “Happy Diwali everyone. I hope the Festival of Lights will lead to the victory of good over evil!” he wrote.

Trump’s post was quickly hailed by Bangladeshi Hindus and organizations that represent them. The overwhelming majority of comments the post elicited were of a laudatory nature.

Apart from Hindus around the world, a large number of white Christians praised Trump for speaking out boldly against the persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.