WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress condemned President Donald Trump’s statements about the Somali population in Minnesota last week, claiming Trump is stoking bigotry through xenophobic comments.
Reflecting on fraud convictions in Minnesota during the COVID-19 pandemic, the president blamed Somali immigrants in a Cabinet meeting last Tuesday, commenting that they had “destroyed Minnesota.” He also referred to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) — a Somali American representing Minneapolis — as “garbage” and labeled the state of Minnesota “a hellhole right now.”
“The Somalians should be out of here. They’ve destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain,” he said.
Trump’s comments drew swift backlash from Somali Americans and prompted criticism from Democrats.
Aligning with the president’s tough-on-crime approach toward blue states, Trump voiced concern over fraud convictions in Minnesota. The state experienced a wave of fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily centered on the charitable organization Feeding Our Future but also included Housing Stabilization Services and autism programs. Among those charged with fraud in the Feeding Our Future case, most are of Somali descent, while the group’s founder, Aimee Bock, is white.
Omar told Medill News Service that xenophobic comments like those directed by Trump against her imply potential danger.
“When you use dehumanizing language like that, there is always the risk that the people who follow the president will act to harm either me or the Somali person that they might encounter. And so it’s really dangerous rhetoric for him to continue to utilize,” she said.
Countering Trump’s claims that Somali immigrants are harming the state, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said the work of Somali Americans is embedded in the Minnesota community.
“The 80,000 Somali-Americans in our state work in our schools, care for our seniors, and serve our community…the President has now chosen to attack 80,000 Somali-Americans, calling them ‘garbage.’ These hateful attacks must stop,” Klobuchar said in a statement last week.
It is not out of character for Trump to make denigrating remarks about an immigrant group. After the shooting of two National Guard troops in late November, Trump said there were “a lot of problems with Afghans.” He also said during his reelection campaign that nearly 100% of jobs created during the Biden administration were filled by “illegal aliens,” a claim widely debunked by the press.
“Many of these people are criminals,” he said of Somali Minnesotans. He also posted on Truth Social that night that he would “permanently” stop migration from “third world” nations.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told Medill News Service that Trump’s words should be met with political consequences.
“Trump has shown himself to be incapable of apology, and so the best way that we can do [consequences] is by continuing the rejection of the broader Republican Party,” she said.
Ocasio-Cortez also called out what she described as the Republican Party’s “co-signing” of Trump’s language.
Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) expressed worry about how these comments will impact the safety of Somali Americans in her state. She said the community has faced threats in recent days.
“My message to Minnesotans of Somali dissent is: be careful. Don’t hesitate to call 911, if you need help,” she told Medill News Service.
A Cinnabon employee was fired in Wisconsin last week for making derogatory comments about Somali customers, which were captured on a viral video and picked up by numerous news outlets. She called the customers “evil” and used the N-word repeatedly. In response to her firing, a GoFundMe was started after angry supporters objected to her termination. Her campaign has raised nearly $300,000.
A comment on her fund page posted Wednesday morning read, “Crystal, I am so proud of you for being a proud White Woman. You did nothing wrong.”
Republican senators such as Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said they do not accept Democrats’ claims that the president is xenophobic. When asked about whether the president is a xenophobe, Hawley said “no” but declined to elaborate.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) told reporters he was worried about crime in Minnesota, condemning “fraud, fraud and more fraud.” He specifically blamed Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the fraud, and did not mention the state’s Somali residents.
“It seems like every day there is a new discovery of stolen taxpayer dollars in my home state of Minnesota, and who is smack dab in the middle of it, the self-acknowledged liar, incompetent, failed governor and failed vice presidential candidate Tim Walz,” Emmer said.
Smith said that the backlash to Trump’s comments was accompanied by appreciation for Minnesota as a state that protects immigrants.
“Folks are surrounding and appreciating the Somali community for the many contributions that it makes to our state, whether they are people serving in law enforcement or emergency response or teachers or doctors or nurses,” Smith told Medill News Service.
Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who has often been the target of negative rhetoric due to being trans, said Trump’s remarks are fueled by hatred.
“Donald Trump seems to hate a lot of Americans,” she told Medill News Service. “I think the president should be a unifying figure who respects and values every single American, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
McBride said that her colleagues are united in objecting to the president’s remarks about Somali immigrants. She also said that members of the GOP may also oppose the president’s targeted comments about ethnic groups.
“I think a lot of Republicans understand that too in Congress, but they’re too chicken shit to actually say something,” she added.
Omar said that f being targeted by Trump has strengthened her admiration for her Somali community.
Commenting on the values of fellow Somali Americans, Omar said the community would remain strong.
“I’m proud of them as much as they’re proud of me. We are a very strong, brave, resilient people, and we will continue to stand tall,” she said.