President Donald Trump this week harshly criticized Minnesota's Somali community, calling immigrants from Somalia "garbage," saying they had "destroyed our country" and talking about deporting Rep. Ilhan Omar. The remarks, delivered while he discussed alleged fraud in Minnesota's social services system, prompted Omar to condemn the comments as racist and politically motivated.
President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric against Somali immigrants in Minnesota this week, using demeaning language and raising the prospect of deporting a sitting member of Congress.
According to an NPR report by Michel Martin, Trump on Wednesday launched a tirade while discussing alleged fraud in Minnesota's social services programs, calling immigrants from Somalia "garbage" and saying "they've destroyed our country." He also talked about deporting Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat of Somali descent who represents the largest Somali American population in the United States.
In that NPR interview, Omar, who immigrated to the United States from Somalia at age 12 and is now a U.S. citizen, described Trump's remarks as "vile" and said it was unsurprising because, in her view, he has "trafficked in racism, in xenophobia, in bigotry, in Islamophobia for as long as he has held office." She argued that the attacks on Somali immigrants and on her personally are meant to deflect attention from other scrutiny facing the president.
Trump's comments came amid continuing coverage of alleged fraud involving social services funds in Minnesota. While Trump tied his remarks to those allegations, NPR and other outlets have noted that his language targeted Somali immigrants broadly rather than focusing on individuals accused in specific cases. Public officials and community leaders have emphasized that the Somali community in Minnesota is large and diverse, and that many Somali Americans are naturalized citizens or were born in the United States.
NPR's political analysis has placed Trump's latest remarks in the context of his longstanding pattern of using harsh, nativist language about immigrants, including past statements portraying certain groups as criminals or economic burdens. Analysts note that such rhetoric has been a recurring feature of his political appeal and often coincides with periods of heightened political pressure on his administration.
Trump also singled out Omar personally in his recent comments, despite her status as a U.S. citizen and elected representative. Civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers have warned that suggesting the deportation of a naturalized citizen serving in Congress underscores the extreme nature of the president's rhetoric and risks further stigmatizing Somali Americans and other immigrant communities.
While Trump has linked his criticism of Somali immigrants to concerns about fraud and security, experts say his sweeping characterizations are not supported by available evidence about the community as a whole. Migration scholars and community advocates interviewed by major news organizations have instead highlighted Somali Americans' economic, cultural and civic contributions to Minnesota.
Some political observers told NPR they see the renewed focus on Somali immigrants and on Omar as part of a familiar tactic by Trump to energize his base by spotlighting contentious cultural issues. They say the president's remarks may rally core supporters even as they draw condemnation from Democrats and advocacy groups.
The White House has defended Trump's language as a blunt response to what it describes as serious abuses in the social services system. However, critics argue that condemning an entire national-origin group in such terms goes far beyond addressing specific cases of wrongdoing and fuels xenophobia.
The controversy over Trump's latest comments adds to an already tense atmosphere for Somali Americans in Minnesota, who have previously reported increased harassment and fear during periods of heated political debate over immigration.
