A leading Korean American group in Los Angeles has blasted Donald Trump Jr. for a social media post they say disrespects their community’s painful history and stirs up tension during a volatile time.
The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA) condemned Trump Jr. for what they called a “reckless” message on X (formerly Twitter), where he shared a photo of an armed man on a rooftop with the caption: “Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again!”
That image and slogan refer to the 1992 LA Riots, when some Korean Americans, feeling abandoned by law enforcement, defended their businesses with guns during widespread violence and looting. The event left deep scars in the community.
In a statement, the group slammed Trump Jr.’s post:
“While the unrest has not yet subsided, Donald Trump Jr … showed the recklessness of posting a post on X on Sunday, June 8, mocking the current unrest by mentioning the ‘Rooftop Korean’ from the LA riots 33 years ago.”
KAFLA said the post, coming from someone with a massive following and deep political ties, risks making a tense situation worse.
“As the eldest son of the current president and an influencer with approximately 15 million followers, his actions could pose a huge risk in these icy times, and we strongly urge the past trauma of the Korean people be never, ever exploited for any purpose.”
The organization also voiced concern over a recent immigration crackdown in LA, saying Korean American-owned businesses are being caught in the chaos and warning that “due legal procedures” are being ignored.
Photojournalist Hyungwon Kang, who took the image Trump Jr. used, says the post distorts history. He responded directly on X, writing:
“You’re using the photo out of context. Please take it down.”
Speaking to Reuters, Kang explained his photo was from a time when police were missing in action and Korean Americans had no choice but to defend themselves.
“(The) current situation of people expressing a widespread disagreement about an excessive and aggressive enforcement by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while LAPD is present and keeping the city in order is not even remotely similar to the dire situation for Korean Americans of those dark hours during the 1992 LA Riots,” he said.
Kang also said he’s seeking legal advice after getting no response from Trump Jr. about removing the photo.
No one from the Trump administration has responded publicly to the controversy.
