ChatGPT says:
The term "white Hispanic" began gaining traction in U.S. bureaucratic and media discourse in the late 20th century, particularly after the 1980 Census, which for the first time separated Hispanic origin (an ethnicity) from race. That led to the official framing of people as "Hispanic of any race," and in turn, some respondents identified as both Hispanic and white—hence white Hispanic.
But the term really entered public consciousness during the 2012 media coverage of the Trayvon Martin case, when George Zimmerman was widely described as a "white Hispanic." That phrasing sparked backlash and confusion, with critics on all sides accusing the media of racial narrative manipulation.
So you're both kind of right? ZenMode less, but there was actually some truth to his claim.