WITH four months until Election Day, six Filipino Americans are among those helping President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign court the fast-growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) electorate.
The recently announced “Asian Pacific Americans for Trump,” includes a 26-member advisory board of AAPI elected officials, grassroots leaders and business owners.
Asian Americans are now the fastest-growing demographic of eligible voters out of the major racial and ethnic groups, comprising 4.7% of the electorate this 2020, according to a recent Pew Research Center report.
Pinoy advisory members include Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who is one of the co-chairs; former Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo; Vellie Dietrich-Hall, an entrepreneur from Virginia; Brunswick, Ohio Mayor and attorney Ron Falconi; Herman Martir, a pastor from Fort Worth, Texas; and Shirlene Ostrov, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and chair of the Hawaii Republican Party.
“I am thrilled to be working again with officials from the Trump campaign and the RNC to be a conservative voice in Asian American communities so that we can re-elect the president,” Falconi, who also participated in the president’s 2016 campaign, told the Asian Journal.
On the website for the group, the description reads: “Asian Pacific Americans stand with President Trump to defend freedom, strengthen the American Dream and create a prosperous future with abundant opportunities for generations to come. Asian Pacific Americans cherish the United States as our precious homeland and we will ensure President Trump’s victory in November so our communities and families can continue to thrive under ‘Promises Made, Promises Kept’ for FOUR MORE YEARS!”
This past January, Calvo and Martir were sworn into the president’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs, which “works to broaden access by AAPI employers and communities to economic resources and opportunities.” Calvo — who was the governor of Guam from 2011 to 2019 — also served as a Trump surrogate during the APIAVote Presidential Town Hall on Saturday, June 27.
Reyes, who is Filipino on his father’s side, is also seeking reelection for his position and has received an endorsement from Trump himself.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes (@SeanReyesUT) is a fighter and hard worker for the Great State of Utah. He is a big supporter of our #MAGA Agenda – Strong on Crime, the Second Amendment, and Loves our Law Enforcement….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2020
“Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes (@SeanReyesUT) is a fighter and hard worker for the Great State of Utah. He is a big supporter of our #MAGA Agenda – Strong on Crime, the Second Amendment, and Loves our Law Enforcement,” Trump tweeted in April.
In a 2018 Asian American Voter Survey released by APIAVote and AAPI Data, 48% of Filipinos surveyed said they had a “favorable” view of the Republican Party, while 50% said they had a “favorable” view of Democratic Party.
“Our group only has a short period of time before November comes around, and we should focus on our goals. We need to fight back against the mainstream media/Democrat message that all APAs are liberals and vote to the left. Our community is not monolithic, we have a wide variety of views and political opinions,” Falconi added. “Highlighting conservative Asian Pacific American leaders across the country who support Donald Trump will help to go against this stereotype. We also need to rally and convince APAs within all of our communities to vote for the GOP this fall because they represent our beliefs and our values.”
The same survey found that 48% of Filipinos said they approve of the way Trump was handling his job as president, while another 48% said they disapproved.
WTF??? Mga tanga!
I will always stand for the Constitution of the United STATES of AMERICA. Make AMERICA GREAT!
WTF? Mga tanga!
I cannot support this at all. This president is divisive and pits Americans against Americans. He continues to use the names “Kung-Flu” and the “China Virus” When publicly speaking about COVID19. Most Americans cannot distinguish one Asian race from another, so the opportunity to be lumped in together as Chinese is there. Violence against Asian Americans is up 300%. His current rhetoric makes it unsafe for ALL Asians Americans. I believe this is an extension of the colonial mentality for Filipino – the same reason why our Tita’s would tease us about being “too dark” as we were children and our Tito’s would flatten our noses and tell us “now you look cute.” The way forward is NOT under his continued leadership. I beg all my Filipino-Americans to re-examine what legacy this president is already leaving, our beloved United States cannot afford another four years under his failure of leadership.
So joyful that we Filipinos (Asian American) are getting united to support president Trump for a greater blessed America
Way to go! Mabuhay! MAGA!
I just joined this group. I am speaking for my humble experience in the US. I didn’t care much about politics when I got here in 1995 as a physical therapist. My mama told me to stay in your lane, help with 100% care, and don’t forget where you come from, have faith in God. Just recently I become active because I want to show how grateful I am to have given the opportunity to work and live here! The great United States of America. I vote for the President because the other option was another Clinton in the office and we had 8 years of that already. My prayers to the advisory is to stay focus on the right messaging for the undecided voters. Don’t worry about us that will vote Trump this November. Focus on the undecided voters!!! “ Safer Communities instead of more Law and Order, solid job creation instead of attacking the previous administrations and ECONOMY…… Who has better plan on economic recovery? It’s Mr Trump….. he’s a good businessman and good negotiator!! He’s not eloquent and he’s not going to be what you want him to be But I know this that he loves this country. Congratulations to all of you. Make us proud. Do everything you can with Faith in God to re elect President Trump
How do I get to join?
Voting Democrat is voting for higher taxes, prisoners being released, less police, increase in lawlessness, closed churches, a failing economy, communism and socialism, more dead babies, repatriation for those who have never been slaves paid for by those who never owned slaves, no free speech, no freedom of worship, no 2nd Amendment, and the fall of democracy as well as the increase and vulnerability of the US to invasion of foreign enemies and groups as well as increase of crime…. MAGA 2020!!!!
We are not Tanga! We are not, we understand whats going on…you are the Tanga! some filipino crab mentality you are! Who call ed us Tanga!
I sincerely would like to join a coalition of like-minded FIlipinos as it has become increasingly difficult to hold conservative values in times like these. For the record, Trump is not divisive – he makes hard decisions which lead to him being depicted as the enemy by the mainstream media.
Also, enough with the name-calling. I voted for neither Trump nor Clinton last election. I didn’t trust Trump, but I definitely did NOT trust Clinton – I couldn’t bring myself to choose the lesser of two evils. Come this November, though, I know who my vote will go to.
Last, but not least – please, please do your own research on the main players in our government instead of just swallowing whatever tidbits CNN or even FOX feed you. Look at the numbers yourself. He’s done more for this country than the last 3 presidents. Dare I say it – he’s come close to Reagan as my favorite president.
Trump / Pence 2016 – 2024 !!
Trump 2020 !
I stand with the 45th President of the US. And will vote Red again in 2020. I love this country, and I am grateful and thankful I am a citizen of this country! Trump/Pence 2020!
Being a first generation Pinoy-American! I am proud to say that I am 100% supporting President Trump and Vice-President Pence for 2020! We cannot allow these socialist thugs to ruin our country. The United States of American is still the best country in the world! Land of the Free! Land of Opportunity! Land where you can still realize your Dreams as long as you work hard! God, Faith, Family and Country is all we can ask for and I am afraid if Sleepy Joe and his puppet masters (Pelosi, Shumer and Obama) get in. All will be lost! Ask yourselves why our parents came here and its very simple! God Speed to President Trump and may we continue with another 4 years of American Greatness! Mabuhay!
EFREN ABIAD : wow, what can I say about you? You are an extremist. Your views about things are way too exaggerated. That’s not what the Democrat Party is all about. You are misinformed. You better work on your punitive superego, or you be a poor, miserable judgmental piece of shittt all your life.
Sorry buddy, me misinformed, an extremist? Ha me thinks not. I just love my country and what it stands for PROUDLY! Exaggerated? Are you kidding me? I watch enough CNN, MSNBC and liberal media to know that this country has gone straight to hell. There acceptance and propping of these far-left social-hacks into the mainstream lexicon is who I target. This element must be stopped from festering within our country. History has proven that all you need is one bad apple to rot one nation’s core. See Russia…see China…see any other Communist/Socialist country birth.
Case in point, take California! I go back and forth from San Francisco and Los Angeles and there is nothing exaggerated about what I see and what has happened to my once wonderful state. I look around my own neighborhood and I see nothing exaggerated (homelessness, over-crowding and fires). I don’t lay blame upon anyone else other than the idiots(Democrats) that run this state. Democrats have owned the highest level of State Legislative Branch the past 10 years and have repeatedly past laws that have done nothing but ruin California. This my friend was caused due to lame brain decisions made by Arnold (RINO), Brown and Gruesome’s Socialist policies! So spare me your obtuse view of how your Democratic Party is all about! And let’s not start with the other 49 states and commonwealths. Your Democratic Party is a long ways from Democrats of old (Blue Dogs). At least back then we were a lot closer to the middle and could find common ground.
Oh by the way, why so emotional? Your a perfect example of what has happened to Democrats today! Highly charged and highly triggered! Attacking me personally for my….. “punitive superego and my miserable judgmental piece of shittt all your life?” Hmm? And I’m judgmental? Interesting Efrain! Keep backing your identity politics, wealth diminishing, always creating pointless welfare state programs that drain budgets with no positive results, liberty hating and no Law and Order Party while I back my fellow Racist, 2nd amendment loving, free speech give me liberty or death Make American Great Again Party on November 3rd! God Bless You!
Migrating to America is a great privilege however it doesn’t mean that you have to forget where you came from. Some people try so hard to be “Americanized”. They align themselves with Hollywood or anyone/anything that they think can make them look better because of their delusions that now they are better than the folks they left behind in their barrio or province. Wake up, people! You’re in America now so why keep proving it in superficial ways? Stop making yourself look ridiculously stupid. Adapt to the culture of your “new” country but keep the good values that you grew up with, not the other way around. Vote with you conscience, not with what you ignorantly think makes you “Americanized “.