Largest Somali community in the country surprised by Trump's disrespect

MINNEAPOLIS The citys Somali population, the largest in the United States, was taken aback on Wednesday by President Donald Trump's latest derogatory comments aimed at their community.

During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump told reporters, "They contribute nothing. I dont want them in our country. We can go one way or the other, and were going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country." He followed up the next day in the Oval Office, adding, "Somalians should be out of here. Theyve destroyed our country."

The president also dismissed Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has frequently criticized Trump's rhetoric, calling him a "fool." Trump said he would not be proud of the city having the largest Somali population in the U.S.

Hamse Warfa, a Somali-born entrepreneur in the Minneapolis area, strongly disagreed. "I am not garbage," he stated, highlighting his successful business ventures and leadership of a nationwide education nonprofit, World Savvy. Warfa noted that such anti-immigrant rhetoric has been a recurring political strategy, recalling how Haitian migrants were targeted during the last presidential election. "Last presidential election it was the Haitians; the next iteration now is Somalis," he said.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul region is home to around 84,000 Somali residents, nearly one-third of all Somalis in the country. Trumps remarks came shortly after reports suggested federal authorities were planning targeted immigration enforcement against Somalis living in the U.S. illegally. Most local Somalis, however, are American citizens, many born in the state.

Some community leaders reported hearing about detentions but had no detailed information. Federal immigration officials did not immediately respond to inquiries. Somali refugees have been settling in Minnesota since the 1990s, drawn by social services and the growing diaspora, and have become integral to local neighborhoods and politics. They run businesses, occupy public offices, and have strengthened the Twin Cities communities.

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, a frequent target of Trump, serves in Congress. The community has also faced challenges from criminal cases involving a small number of Somalis accused of defrauding social services, though most involved U.S. citizens.

Trump recently labeled Minnesota a center of money laundering allegedly benefiting al-Shabab, a claim with little substantiated evidence. His statements coincided with a pause on asylum and immigration applications from several countries, including Somalia, following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers by an Afghan national.

Local leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Frey, pledged to defend the Somali community. Frey emphasized, "Minneapolis is and will remain a city that stands up for our residents." Lawmakers and city council members called on Republicans to publicly reject the presidents attacks.

Warfa expressed a desire for the hostility to end, noting the personal toll it takes on his family. I would rather spend time with my daughter thinking about college, and taking her to different college tours, instead of being spoken about as garbage by the president of the United States, he said.

Author: Lucas Grant