Students at the University of Texas at Austin said they were dismayed - but unsurprised - by the racist attacks lobbed at them online after a Republican candidate for statewide office suggested white Americans were being "displaced." Bo French, the Republican running for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state's oil and gas industry, on Sunday posted racist comments on X that included an image of UT students of South Asian descent celebrating the victory.

"I heard UT graduation this year looked like this," French wrote in a post featuring a photo of the students.

"I didn't believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined." On Monday, French defended his comments on a conservative radio talk show.