US president: Somalia ‘barely a country,’ don’t want Somali immigrants in our country
U.S. President Trump intensified his criticism of Somali immigrants, describing Somalia as “barely a country” and calling Somalis “garbage”
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Somali immigrants, describing Somalia as “barely a country” and calling Somalis “garbage,” adding that he does not want them in the United States.
Speaking at the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting, Trump dismissed concerns about political correctness, saying he did not care how his remarks were perceived. “I don’t want them in our country,” he said, adding that the U.S. would suffer if it continued accepting what he described as “garbage.”
Last week, Trump blamed refugees for social problems in the United States, pointing to Minnesota as an example and claiming the state had been overwhelmed by “hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia.”
Recent statistics contradict that depiction; the Somali population in Minnesota is slightly above 60,000, most of whom are legal residents.
Trump also recently announced the termination of a Somali protection program in Minnesota, a move that affects only a small number of people.
On Tuesday, he personally targeted Somali-born U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, calling her and her associates “garbage.” Omar responded on X, describing Trump’s fixation on her as “creepy” and saying she hoped he would seek the help he needs.
The comments emerged as Minnesota confronts a high-profile welfare fraud case involving several Somali residents accused of defrauding the state’s system of hundreds of millions of dollars during the tenure of Democratic Governor Tim Walz.
U.S. media outlets have also speculated about upcoming Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting Somali migrants in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The New York Times reported that the operation is focused on Somalis lacking proper documentation.
Minnesota hosts the largest Somali community in the United States, numbering over 60,000 people.
Despite the inflammatory rhetoric, most members of the community are lawful residents, long-established within the state’s social and economic fabric.
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