 "Supporters of the America First ideology and U.S. President Donald Trump cheer on Nick Fuentes, a leader of the America First movement and a white nationalist. Reuters")
A new slur for Indians is doing the rounds of the internet.
Nick Fuentes, a far-right influencer in the US, recently used the term ‘jeet’ as a derogatory remark against Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance.
Fuentes made the comment, which takes aim at Usha’s Indian heritage, on the latest episode of British journalist Piers Morgan’s talk show.
But what happened? And what does it mean?
Morgan confronts Fuentes
Morgan, on his talk show Piers Morgan Uncensored, confronted Fuentes, the far-right leader and Maga activist. “You called JD Vance’s wife a jeet. What does that mean?” Morgan enquired.
“It’s a slur for Indians,” Fuentes replied. The 27-year-old far-right activist has previously been accused of making racist remarks against Indians, Black people, Mexicans and other groups. He has also been accused of making misogynistic comments against women, saying they should stay at home and be unable to vote.
“Just to clear up one of the many theories about you, I’ve no idea what the answer is and you haven’t got to answer, but are you actually attracted to women?” Morgan also asked.
“I am attracted to women… but I will say that women are very difficult to be around, so there’s that,” Fuentes responded.
What ‘jeet’ means
The term ‘jeet’ or ‘pajeet’ originated in forums such as Reddit or 4chan.According to the website Know Your Meme, the earliest such use of the word ‘jeet’ as a slur for Indians occurred on a 4chan board in July 2015. This came after a user attempted to defend India from ‘smelling bad’ jokes by claiming Indians only defecate “on designated streets”.
The slur, “Pajeet my son”, was a play on the comic “Mehmet my Son”, featuring a Turkish father and son. It was used to mock open defecation in India.
By September 2015, it was the most commonly used slur against Asians – after ‘chink’ and ‘Paki’.
While some say it is a combination of the words ‘Paaji’ and ‘jeet’ and is aimed at Sikhs and Punjabis in particular, many dismiss this. They say the slur is aimed at Indians in general and attempts to portray them as ‘dirty’ and ‘smelly’.
A female version of the slur, “Pajeeta”, is also being used. Another variation, “Pajeet Kumar” – perhaps because Kumar is a common name among Hindus – is also doing the rounds.
The term is now being openly used on websites such as Reddit, X , Instagram to openly vilify Indians and foment anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiment.
Sangay Mishra, a professor at Drew University who researches immigrant political incorporation and racial politics, told American Bazaar Online: “I’ve been hearing about it for a while It doesn’t make logical sense, but racial slurs rarely do. People have tried to trace its origins, but there’s no single definitive answer.”
In America, the slur recently gained renewed traction among the far-right during the backlash against H-1B visa holders. This came after US President Donald Trump announced a $100,000 (Rs 83 lakh) fee for new H-1B visa applicants.
Perhaps what is at the heart of the renewed racism and anger against Indians is the claim in right-wing circles that Indians and those of Indian origin are somehow ‘stealing’ jobs and opportunities from the ‘more deserving’ Americans.
The Washington Post quoted one 36-year-old ICE hopeful saying, “I keep seeing memes where Indians are bragging about taking our tech jobs. So, I said, ‘Oh yeah? Well I’m going to work with these guys that are going to arrest you, slam your face on the pavement and send you home’.”
The US is home to 2.4 million Indian immigrants and another 3.3 million people of Indian origin in 2024. Indians are among the most educated groups in the US, remain the highest-earning migrant group with an income of around $150,000 (Rs. 1.25 crore) per year – double that of the average US household – and are increasingly represented in politics and in boardrooms, with nearly two dozen CEOs being of Indian origin.
Not a US problem alone
But it isn’t just a problem in America. Its usage has now spread to right-wing groups in Canada, the UK and Australia.
Harmeet Gugni, visiting her family in Canada’s Toronto, was warned not to react if she faced the slur in public.
“I was disturbed,” she told the website. “A casual walk in Brampton suddenly felt like something I had to prepare for. Thankfully, nothing happened, but it stayed with me.”
With inputs from agencies