Van Duyne’s X post showed her shaking hands with Porandla at a Princeton event. The clip went viral overnight, as the image immediately drew ire from MAGA supporters who accuse Republican leaders of pandering to India.
Porandla, a 27‑year‑old engineering PhD candidate, withdrew a 2024 paper from the Journal of Applied Mechanics after admitting the experiments were not performed. The retraction was cited by Retraction Watch and highlighted her willingness to correct the record.
MAGA commentators blasted the post, labeling it as evidence of a ‘liberal bias’ in Congress. One tweet mocked that the congresswoman was promoting foreign talent over American jobs.
The backlash has prompted the House Science Committee to schedule a hearing on Van Duyne’s views on STEM workforce development. Meanwhile, Porandla said she is working on a revised version of the retracted study and hopes to publish it within six months.