Texas Governor Greg Abbott has dropped a bombshell that’s got the nation buzzing, signing Senate Bill 17 to slam the door on Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran buying up Texas land—a move hailed as a “game-changer” for national security! 😱 A viral Reddit poll on r/DonaldTrumpNewss, with 95 votes, showed 81% cheering Abbott’s bold stand, igniting a social media firestorm on Threads and X. “No more foreign invaders stealing our soil!” one user roared, as #TexasTough trends with memes of Abbott as a cowboy guarding the Lone Star State. Is this a patriotic win or a dangerous precedent? The internet is ablaze, and you have to see why this is blowing up online!
Signed into law on June 20, 2025, Senate Bill 17 bans individuals, companies, and governments from these four nations—listed as threats in the 2025 U.S. Intelligence Annual Threat Assessment—from purchasing any Texas real estate, from farmland to homes to oil-rich land, starting September 1, 2025. Abbott, in a fiery X post, declared, “Hostile nations like China and Russia won’t own a single acre on my watch!” Supporters on Threads are ecstatic, sharing posts like, “Abbott’s protecting Texas from foreign spies!” with viral clips of him signing the bill. The hashtag #KeepTexasOurs is exploding, with users claiming, “China’s been buying our farmland to control our food!”—a fear fueled by a 2023 USDA report noting Chinese investors own 383,000 acres of U.S. farmland, though only a fraction of Texas’ 5.7 million foreign-owned acres.
The law’s backers, like State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, call it the “toughest national security bill in the nation,” arguing it shields critical resources like water, timber, and rare earth minerals. A 2025 Center Square report highlighted concerns about China’s land purchases near military bases, with one X post screaming, “They’re setting up spy hubs in our backyard!” Supporters point to incidents like a Chinese firm’s 2021 attempt to buy land near Laughlin Air Force Base, blocked by local outcry, as proof of the threat. The bill’s penalties are brutal: violators face state jail felonies and fines up to $250,000 or 50% of the property’s value, per The Economic Times. On X, @GuntherEagleman’s post, “Let’s Go!!! No foreign purchases!” racked up 200,000 views, amplifying the hype
But critics are sounding the alarm, warning the ban could spark discrimination and economic fallout. Opponents on Threads argue it unfairly targets non-citizens, with one viral post stating, “Abbott’s painting all Asians as spies—this is racism!” They cite a 2024 Texas Tribune report noting the bill’s broad language risks profiling Asian Americans, especially after a Johns Hopkins expert uncovered alleged Chinese Communist Party campaigns on WeChat smearing critics of the bill. Others warn of economic damage, as foreign investment fuels Texas’ booming real estate market—$1.4 billion in 2023, per the Texas Real Estate Research Center. “This could scare off legitimate investors!” one user fumed, sharing a chart of foreign land ownership showing Canada and European allies own most of Texas’ foreign-held acres.
The debate is a cultural lightning rod. Supporters see Abbott as a patriot defending America’s heartland, with a 2025 Rasmussen Reports poll showing 62% of Texans back the ban. On X, posts like “China’s laughing while buying our land—Abbott stopped them!” fuel the narrative, despite USDA data showing Russia, Iran, and North Korea collectively own less than 3,000 U.S. acres. Critics counter that the ban’s optics play into fear-mongering, with one Threads user posting, “This is Trump’s playbook—scare voters with foreign bogeymen!” They argue the law’s provision letting Abbott add countries to the ban list, per Rep. Nate Schatzline’s amendment, risks overreach. “What’s next, banning Canada?” one sarcastic post quipped, gaining 5,000 likes.
Social media is a battlefield, with #TexasLandBan clashing with #StopTheHate. A viral meme shows Abbott as a sheriff locking up foreign flags, while opponents share images of Asian American farmers, captioned, “These are the real Texans hurt by this!” The controversy’s timing, amid Trump’s push to ban Chinese farmland purchases nationwide, per a July 2025 Washington Post report, adds fuel. Legal challenges loom, with experts citing potential violations of the Fair Housing Act, but Abbott’s team insists the law targets only “hostile” nations, not individuals living in the U.S.
As Texas braces for the ban’s rollout, the nation is divided. Is Abbott’s move a bold stand to protect America, or a divisive stunt fanning xenophobia? With Threads buzzing with polls like @MAGAVoice’s “Do you support Abbott’s ban? A. Yes B. No,” showing 75% for “Yes,” the hype is unstoppable. The viral signing ceremony clip has 10 million views, and every share stokes the flames. Click to dive into the debate that’s tearing up Texas!
