Trump openly refers to Somalis as 'garbage' in a racist outburst

During Thanksgiving, shortly after announcing the death of U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who had been shot the previous day, former President Donald Trump diverted attention to Somali immigrants in Minnesota. When asked about the connection between the immigrants and the shooting, Trump replied that there was none but insisted that Somalis have caused a lot of trouble.

Five days later, Trump escalated his remarks significantly. According to reports, he called Somali immigrants garbage and stated he did not want them in the United States. The remarks, made during a White House Cabinet meeting, reflected a sharp xenophobic tone that many critics said highlighted a long-standing pattern of offensive comments toward Black people, particularly those from African countries.

At the meeting, Trump stated, I dont want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks, and we dont want them in our country. He continued, warning that the United States was at a tipping point and that admitting what he called garbage would lead the country in the wrong direction. He also targeted Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, calling her and her associates garbage and accusing them of contributing nothing but complaints.

The two-hour event ended with applause from Cabinet members. Melvin Carter, the mayor of St. Paul, condemned the remarks as racist, Islamophobic, and xenophobic, calling them un-American. Omar also criticized the former president, describing his focus on her as creepy and suggesting he needed help.

Trumps comments echo previous controversial statements, including his 2015 remarks about Haiti and African nations, which were criticized as racist. Unlike earlier incidents, his recent statements were made publicly and appear to influence policy. Reports indicate that federal authorities are preparing a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota aimed primarily at Somali immigrants.

Author: Riley Thompson