U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest condemnation of Somali immigrants sent shockwaves through Minnesota’s large Somali diaspora on Wednesday, prompting sharp political opposition and renewed fears of potential federal enforcement action. For a community that has endured years of rhetorical targeting, the fury of this week’s remarks marked a new escalation.
What exactly did Donald Trump say about Somali immigrants?
After Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Donald Trump delivered one of his harshest assessments of Somali-Americans to date.
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“They don’t contribute anything. I don’t want them in our country,” the US president told reporters. “We can go one way or the other and we will go down the wrong path if we continue to bring garbage into our country.”
Donald Trump followed up the comments with an even ruder note: “When they come from hell and complain and do nothing but be swine. We don’t want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it!”
Trump doubled down: “The Somalis should be out of here. They destroyed our country.”
The US president added that he “wouldn’t be proud” to have the largest Somali community in the country, saying: “Look at their nation. Look at how bad their nation is. It’s not even a nation. It’s just people going around killing each other.”
Trump took aim at Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, calling him a “lunatic” before turning again to Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar: “(He’s) always talking about the constitution. Go back to your own country and find out your constitution.”
Trump later added: “Somalia is considered by many to be the worst country on Earth – I will not be there anytime soon.
Why is the Somali community in Minnesota so significant?
The Minneapolis-St Paul region is home to an estimated 84,000 people of Somali descent, nearly one-third of the total Somali population in the United States. Their arrival dates back to the 1990s, when refugees fleeing civil conflict resettled in Minnesota, attracted by welfare programs and an expanding diaspora network.
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Over time, Somali Minnesotans have become a visible and influential part of the state’s political fabric. Community members serve in state legislatures, city councils, and various civic institutions.
Ilhan Omar – a frequent pick of Donald Trump – represents Minnesota in the US House of Representatives.
Why do Trump’s remarks matter now?
The latest tirade from Donald Trump comes days after the administration halted all asylum decisions following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House in Washington. While the suspect is of Afghan descent, Trump has extended criticism to other immigrant groups, including Somalis.
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His comments also coincided with reports that federal authorities are preparing a targeted immigration operation in Minnesota. The effort will focus primarily on Somali immigrants living in the United States illegally, according to an individual familiar with the planning.
However, the majority of Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens—many born in the country.
The president went on to claim on social media that Minnesota is a “money laundering hub” and claimed he would send Somalis “back to where they came from.”
How did government officials, leaders of the Somali community respond?
Minnesota leaders were quick to condemn Trump’s rhetoric and urged residents to avoid conflating isolated incidents with the entire community.
Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joined Somali community leaders in defending Somali residents, highlighting their contributions and long-term presence.
Frey’s response was unequivocal: “Minneapolis is — and will remain — a city that stands behind our residents.”
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Community leaders also pushed back against attempts to link recent cases of welfare fraud to Somali-Americans in general.
What role does Ilhan Omar play in this dispute?
Representative Ilhan Omar has long been the focus of Trump’s criticism, and the president’s recent comments have revived earlier allegations regarding her marital history.
Trump was referring to the claims, which were sent out in February 2025 News VIN — in which a Somali community leader claimed Omar married her brother to “do what she had to do to get him ‘papers’ to keep him in the U.S. Omar has consistently denied the allegation and no conclusive evidence has emerged.”
