For the second day in a row, United States President Donald Trump has launched a fresh wave of inflammatory remarks targeting Somali immigrants, making sweeping claims about their impact on American society.
Trump's Controversial Claims on Somalia and Minnesota
Speaking to reporters, the President described the state of Minnesota as "a hellhole right now" and asserted that Somali residents "should be out of here." He claimed their primary activity was complaining. Trump's criticism extended to the homeland of many immigrants, stating, "Look at their nation. Look how bad their nation — it's not even a nation. It's just people walking around killing each other."
He later added, "Somalia is considered by many to be the worst country on Earth," and claimed "what the Somalian people have done to Minnesota is not even believable." His core accusation was that they have "destroyed Minnesota" and "destroyed our country." These comments come amidst recent fraud cases involving individuals of Somali descent accused in Covid relief schemes that allegedly netted more than $1 billion.
Targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar and Local Leaders
President Trump also escalated his long-running attacks on Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, the first Somali American elected to the US Congress. "She shouldn't be allowed to be a congresswoman," Trump declared, suggesting she should be "thrown out of our country."
Omar, who fled Somalia's civil war, lived in a Kenyan refugee camp before arriving in the US at age 12. She swiftly responded on social media, pushing back against the President's rhetoric. "Your message of bigotry won't work. Somali Americans are here to stay," she stated.
Other Minnesota leaders condemned the remarks. Senator Tina Smith described them as "what bigotry looks like," while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed pride in the city's Somali community. This prompted a direct retort from Trump, who called Mayor Frey "a fool." "Then he's a fool. I wouldn't be proud," the President said.
Immigration Crackdown and Historical Context
Trump's rhetoric coincides with the reported start of a new immigration enforcement operation in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. However, a senior law enforcement official clarified that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not specifically targeting Somalis, though some may be arrested if found to have violated immigration laws.
This incident is not isolated. President Trump has a documented history of making derogatory remarks about African and immigrant communities. Representative Omar highlighted this in a televised interview, noting that Trump has targeted her and other women of colour for years. She referenced his previous statement telling progressive congresswomen known as "The Squad" to "go back" to their countries—even though all but Omar were born in the United States.
Minnesota is home to an estimated 80,000 Somali Americans, one of the largest such communities in the nation. The ongoing controversy highlights deep divisions over immigration and integration in the United States.
