Grace Meng: Public Appearances and Media
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act White House Signing (May 20, 2021)
Meng's highest-profile national appearance came at the White House signing ceremony for her COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. President Biden signed the legislation at a ceremony that was the largest-scale White House event since the start of the administration, with Vice President Kamala Harris opening the proceedings by thanking Meng and Senator Hirono for their work on the bill . Meng had also participated in a congressional enrollment ceremony the previous day alongside Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer .
January 6 Capitol Breach Social Media Documentation (January 6, 2021)
Meng's real-time social media documentation of her experience during the Capitol breach gained significant national attention. She tweeted throughout the approximately five-hour ordeal, sharing photos of her improvised barricade and gas masks after being rescued . Her posts drew national coverage from NBC New York and other outlets, particularly her comparison of the security response to that of Black Lives Matter protests .
State of the Union Guest Selections
Meng has used her State of the Union guest invitations to highlight issues in her district. For President Biden's 2022 address, she invited Maggie Cheng, whose mother suffered a violent anti-Asian hate crime in Flushing, Queens, as her virtual guest . For President Trump's 2025 address to Congress, she invited Luke Graziani from Woodside, Queens, a veteran who had been terminated from his job at a New York City veterans hospital as part of mass federal employee firings .
CAPAC Press Conferences and Public Events
As CAPAC chair, Meng has served as the caucus's primary public spokesperson, holding press conferences on issues including the impact of Trump administration tariffs on Asian American businesses (September 2025), ICE enforcement actions against Asian immigrants (2026), and broken promises to AANHPI communities (February 2026) . She held an emergency press conference with CBC Chair Yvette Clarke and CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat on matters affecting communities of color .
Roundtable with Mayor Adams on Anti-Asian Attacks (February 2022)
Meng joined New York City Mayor Eric Adams at City Hall for a roundtable with Asian American community leaders and other officials to discuss ongoing attacks on Asian Americans . The event underscored her position as the leading congressional voice on anti-Asian violence in the New York City area.
Metropolitan Detention Center Visit (March 2026)
Meng visited the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where she toured the facility and met with two New Yorkers detained by ICE, including New York City Council employee Rafael Rubio . The visit generated local coverage and underscored her opposition to aggressive immigration enforcement policies.
University of Michigan Alumni Publication
Meng contributed an essay to the University of Michigan alumni magazine describing the process of passing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, providing a first-person account of the legislative effort and calling on readers to combat hate in their communities .
PIX11 Interview on Anti-Asian Violence (March 2021)
In a widely cited interview with PIX11 New York, Meng discussed the attack on an Asian woman in Midtown Manhattan and the broader pattern of anti-Asian violence, making her widely quoted remark about Asian Americans being seen as invisible and as less than human .
Racist Voicemail Release (September 2020)
Meng released audio recordings of racist voicemails she received following the House passage of her resolution denouncing anti-Asian sentiment. The nearly two-minute compilation, shared on her social media accounts, was covered by the Queens Chronicle and other outlets, drawing attention to the threats facing AAPI elected officials during the pandemic .
Queens Ledger Editorial Board Visit (June 2026)
Ahead of the June 2026 primary, Meng visited the Queens Ledger offices in Sunnyside for an editorial board interview. She discussed her Appropriations work, the challenge of navigating Republican scrutiny of diversity-related spending, her positions on Israel and women's issues, and her approach to constituent services .
NYU Wagner Distinguished Visiting Urbanist (Fall 2023)
Meng was named NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service's Distinguished Visiting Urbanist for Fall 2023, teaching a course titled Topics in Urban Studies and participating in public forums on governance, politics, and policy . During the appointment, she participated in a fireside chat on reaching underserved communities through public service alongside former City Councilmember David Greenfield and other panelists .
Telephone Town Halls
Meng has regularly hosted telephone town halls with constituents as a primary form of community engagement, a practice that drew criticism from her 2026 primary challenger for lacking the personal connection of in-person events .