• Korean American Federation criticizes Trump Jr. for social media post about 1992 LA riots.
• Trump Jr. urged not to exploit historical trauma for present commentary.
• Photojournalist demands the removal of his photo used without permission.
• The post has heightened tensions amid ongoing community unrest.

An association of Korean Americans in Los Angeles has criticized Donald Trump Jr., the son of the U.S. president, for "reckless" comments made on social media and has urged him not to exploit the riots that devastated their community 33 years ago. The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles highlighted that an operation by the U.S. administration aimed at rounding up suspected undocumented immigrants lacked "due legal procedures," exacerbating concerns within the community, according to Channel News Asia, SCMP, and Reuters.

Trump Jr. posted a photograph of a man with a rifle on a rooftop on the platform X, captioned "Make Rooftop Koreans Great Again!" This reference connects to actions taken by the Korean American community during the 1992 race riots in Los Angeles. The federation expressed their alarm about the situation in Los Angeles and the detrimental effects of the recent crackdown on their businesses, stressing that the unrest has not subsided, according to Channel News Asia, SCMP, and Reuters.

The federation's statement, issued on Monday, warned that as "the eldest son of the current president" and a widely followed influencer, Trump's actions could pose significant risks in these tense times. They strongly urged that the historical trauma experienced by Korean Americans should never be exploited for any purpose, as echoed by the alarming tone of their collective response, according to Channel News Asia, SCMP, and Reuters.

Hyungwon Kang, a photojournalist who reported for the Los Angeles Times during the 1992 unrest, responded to Trump Jr.'s post, stating that the photograph used was taken by him without permission. He categorized the usage of the photo as being out of context, arguing that the prevailing situation is markedly different from that of the 1992 riots, where there was a significant breakdown of law enforcement. Kang remarked, "You’re using the photo out of context. Please take it down," and has indicated he is consulting a lawyer regarding the matter, as reported by Channel News Asia, SCMP, and Reuters.