United States President, Donald Trump, has made controversial remarks about Somalia and Somali immigrants, describing the country as “barely a country” and referring to Somali migrants as “garbage,” stating he did not want them in the United States.
Speaking at the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting, Trump acknowledged that some might view his comments as politically incorrect, but insisted he was unconcerned.
“I don’t want them in our country. We’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country,” he said.
Trump also criticized refugees, blaming them for social issues in the U.S. and highlighting Minnesota, which he claimed had been “taken over by hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia.”
He announced plans to end a Somali protection programme in Minnesota, which, according to current data, affects only a few hundred people.
On Tuesday, Trump further targeted Somali-born Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from Minnesota, calling her and her associates “garbage.”
The remarks coincided with a high-profile welfare fraud investigation in Minnesota, where dozens of Somali residents allegedly defrauded the state’s system of hundreds of millions of dollars under Gov. Tim Walz.
Responding on X, Omar described Trump’s fixation on her as “creepy” and expressed hope that he would get “the help he desperately needs.”
U.S. media outlets have speculated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement may conduct raids targeting Somali migrants in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The New York Times reported that these operations could affect hundreds of Somalis living in the U.S. without proper residency papers.
Minnesota is home to over 60,000 individuals of Somali descent, making it the largest Somali community in the country, most of whom are legally residing in the state.q
