Trump refers to Somali immigrants as 'garbage' during Cabinet meeting

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump described Somalia as "barely a country" and referred to Somali immigrants as "garbage," stating that he did not want them to enter the United States. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Trump acknowledged that some might see his statements as politically incorrect, but he said he was unconcerned. "I don't want them in our country," he said. "We will head in the wrong direction if we continue to accept garbage into our nation."

Last week, Trump pointed to refugees as a primary source of social issues in the United States, highlighting Minnesota as an example. He claimed the state had been overrun by "hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia." In addition, he recently announced the termination of a Somali protection program in Minnesota, which statistics indicate only impacts a few hundred individuals.

On Tuesday, Trump also attacked Somali-born Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, labeling her and her associates as "garbage." These comments coincided with a widely publicized welfare fraud case in Minnesota, where several dozen Somali residents are accused of defrauding the state of hundreds of millions of dollars under Governor Tim Walz's administration.

Omar responded on X, calling Trump's focus on her "creepy" and expressing hope that he would receive "the help he desperately needs." US media outlets have reported potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting Somali migrants in Minneapolis and St. Paul. According to The New York Times, the initiative aims at hundreds of Somalis lacking proper residency documentation.

Minnesota hosts over 60,000 people of Somali descent, the largest Somali population in the United States, with most living there legally.

Author: Sophia Brooks