Children's YouTube star Rachel Griffin Accurso, known as 'Ms. Rachel,' has publicly supported kindergarteners wearing hijabs after President Donald Trump shared a video of a graduation ceremony featuring children in head coverings. Accurso expressed her support on Instagram, stating, 'I am glad you wore something meaningful and special to you and your family. I think hijabs are beautiful.' She emphasized the importance of cultural and religious expression among children and indirectly addressed Trump's comments, stating, 'No one's hurtful words can take away our worth and our value.'
The video shared by Trump, which originated from the X account End Wokeness, showed several children in hijabs at a kindergarten graduation in St. Paul, Minnesota. Accurso noted her participation in various cultural celebrations over the past year, including Hanukkah, Eid, Easter, and Christmas. She also encouraged children to report any hurtful comments about their attire to a trusted adult.
Accurso has previously faced scrutiny for her social activism, including a visit to an immigration detention facility and her advocacy for children in Gaza. In January, she addressed backlash after accidentally liking an antisemitic comment on social media, clarifying her stance against hate speech and her commitment to kindness and inclusion.