Bo French recasts the dispute as a complaint about DEI admissions
Bo FrenchRepublican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission in a radio interview
In a radio interview, French recast the dispute as one about diversity, equity and inclusion, arguing that university admissions preferences are the real racism.
“We’ve talked about this in terms of DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion]. Well, that’s what DEI was. DEI was discriminating against deserving people, so that these liberal bureaucrat administrators at University of Texas and places like that could select their preferred groups of people. Well, that is what is racism.”
Reporting
Other statements by Bo French in this case
- French says the post was about policy, not raceSame day: Defended or excused
- French says his UT fan posts were about culture, not raceLater: Challenged the characterization
Where this statement fits
Was Bo French’s UT Austin post racist?
After the University of Texas football team’s September 12, 2026 comeback win over Ohio State, Republican Railroad Commission nominee Bo French posted a still image of apparent South Asian fans and called what it showed a “problem.” He later said social media was exposing Americans being displaced by foreigners and accused UT of prioritizing foreigners over Texans. French and several supporters framed the posts as a legitimate criticism of immigration and admissions policy. Republican and Democratic officials, along with other commentators, condemned the use of the fans’ appearance as racist or xenophobic. Governor Greg Abbott rejected French’s interpretation of the image while reaffirming support for restrictive immigration policies.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Houston Public Media report by Andrew Schneider, republished by KUT, on French's Monday, September 14 appearance on The Mark Davis Show. We could not locate a recording of the broadcast, so the quotation is taken from this report.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
French was asked about the post on The Mark Davis Show on the Monday morning after it was published. He had already stood by it publicly.
After the quotation
Politico separately reported that in a radio appearance that day French said he had no personal animosity toward the students and that it is not racist to favour Texans over foreigners. The bracketed expansion of DEI comes from the Houston Public Media report, not from us.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The conduct under scrutiny is French's own post. He defends it here by reframing it as a criticism of admissions policy and turning the charge of racism back on university administrators.
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- Published here
More from this case
Read the full caseRosenthal calls donations a rejection of French
“The people are rejecting this bold, racist campaign of his.”Read statement
Krishnamoorthi calls French’s UT fan post a xenophobic attack
“The Department of Education seems to be playing dog whistles to Bo French’s tune just days after his xenophobic attack on South Asian students for cheering for their own college football team. South Asian Americans are as American as anyone.”Read statement
Cornyn says he will not vote for French, calling him "an embarrassment to the Republican Party"
“He's an embarrassment to the Republican Party, and he's going to drag the whole ticket down because of his racist comments.”Read statement
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- Bo French recasts the dispute as a complaint about DEI admissions
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The Dispute Index. "Bo French recasts the dispute as a complaint about DEI admissions". First published: 2026-09-16. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/742-in-a-radio-interview-french-recast-the-dispute