By Jason Collins
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed here are those of the authors. View more opinions on ScoonTV
Seven seconds. That’s all it took for President Donald Trump to attack and insult an entire community in Minnesota. In a brief but explosive moment, Trump dismissed Minnesota’s Somali community in a way that sent shockwaves through immigrant neighborhoods.
But his remarks are more than his usual campaign-style outburst or personal conflict. They represent the clash between political messaging and an immigrant community that has managed to thrive and grow Somali-American political representation. As this insular community is thrust into the national spotlight, the fight around immigration and birthright citizenship has heated up.
Historical Context in Minnesota
To understand why Trump’s comments struck a nerve, it’s important to look at how the Minnesota Somali community took root.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali community in the U.S., and over the last three decades, that community has been under much scrutiny. During the early 1990s, millions of Somalis fled Somalia either as refugees or asylees. By 1992, the U.S. had begun issuing refugee visas to Somalis and had designated Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). However, a TPS does not grant a green card, nor does it create a path to citizenship. Most of the Somalis who live in Minnesota arrived as refugees, which is a permanent legal pathway to green cards and citizenship.
The reason why Minnesota became the hub for so many Somalis was because of the large number of liberals who welcomed the refugees. Now, 80,000 people of Somali descent live in the state.
As more refugees arrived, the number of Somali-owned businesses rose, and the community made active contributions to Minnesota’s workforce in the transportation, logistics, and healthcare sectors. Despite initial barriers, Somalis also preserved their cultures with mosques, schools, and community centers. These people then elected Somalis to represent them in their new Somali majority districts. Now, some high-profile Somali-American leaders have a visible influence in national conversations and politics.
Trump Policies, Rhetoric, and Community Response
Since Trump was reelected, there have been many changes to immigration policies and mass deportation programs with ICE, causing extreme fear and distrust in communities.
In the wake of the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., by a suspected Afghan national, Trump has escalated his rhetoric of immigration restrictions and paused immigration applications from 19 non-European countries.
The Minnesotan community recently came under fire from the president, who, in a long rant, told reporters that
“They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you…Hundreds of thousands of Somalians are ripping off our country and ripping apart that once great state.”
He continued his tirade and called the community “garbage.”
His remarks coincide with the new ICE operation in the Twin Cities, where at least five Somali immigrants were arrested. Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American lawmaker in the country, wasn’t spared from Trump’s attention following a report on a fraud scandal in Minnesota. The scandal involved around $300 million and led to the arrest of dozens of people, including those of Somali descent.
With all this going on, Trump announced he was making plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Somali residents in the state. Minnesota state Senator Omar Fateh slammed Trump’s comments, saying it was wrong to call the community “good for nothing” and added, “We are teachers and doctors and lawyers and even politicians taking part in every part of Minnesota’s economy and the nation’s economy.”
Salman Fiqy, a Somali small-business owner who supported Trump and ran for state representative as a Republican last year, didn’t reserve judgment on Trump. He told CNN,
“It’s very unpresidential coming from the commander in chief of the United States to dehumanize … a whole entire community by calling them garbage. This is not acceptable.”
Trump also slammed Omar, saying,
“Ilhan Omar is garbage. Her friends are garbage. These aren’t people that work. These aren’t people that say, ‘let’s go. Come on, let’s make this place great.’”
His comments have also caught the attention of Mogadishu resident Abdisalan Ahmed, who said, “This is intolerable. Trump insults Somalis several times every day, calling us garbage and other derogatory names we can no longer tolerate. Our leaders should address his remarks.”
Despite ongoing ICE raids in the state that have seen citizens arrested and many fearful, the community continues to stand together. Omar told Reuters,
“The president has always had very bigoted, xenophobic, Islamophobic comments when it comes to people who are of Muslim faith or people who are Black. We’ve seen him call African nations as shitholes, and so it’s not really surprising.”
Amid the tension, public officials in Minnesota have shown their support for the Somali community, with Police Chief Brian O’Hara joining an interfaith prayer circle. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was seen visiting a mall that primarily serves the Somali community, and US Sen. Amy Klobuchar also appeared there to show her support.
National Focus and Immigration Outrage
On the other side of the political spectrum, Minnesota represents the culmination of failed, destructive immigration policy. There has been increasing concern and national debates about the growth of Muslim communities across the country. A report from the Pew Research Center estimated that by 2050, the American Muslim population will reach over 8 million people, which is around 2% of the country’s population. It is also estimated that 10% of legal immigrants in the country are Muslims, prompting outrage about current immigration policies.
While some Americans were dismayed over Trump’s comments, there are many Americans who are horrified over Somalis taking over large parts of Minnesota. Some citizens are calling for the deportation of these communities, and it’s not just Minnesota experiencing this. A similar scenario unfolded earlier this year, when the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) drew the attention of the Texas government after acquiring 400 acres of property in Collin County for a proposed development called “EPIC City.” The city would cater specifically to Muslims, centered around a mosque. The reaction from local communities was one of concern, and multiple members of the Texas government started investigations into the plans.
With national focus on growing Muslim communities, birthright citizenship has emerged as a frontrunner of the debate. Trump issued an executive order that would end birthright citizenship and strip automatic citizenship from children of illegal immigrants born in the country. The Supreme Court will review the case in 2026 to determine the fate of the order. If passed, this law would have massive consequences, like mass deportations of immigrant communities such as the Somali community in Minnesota.
Future of Immigration at Stake
Trump’s sweeping political attack carries heavy consequences. When a leader uses language that dehumanizes a community, it fuels fear and encourages discrimination. Instead of contributors, this rhetoric frames immigrants as threats. Yet the response from the attacked community shows a different story of contributors rather than threats. The Minnesota community showed that the hostility hurled their way does not define them. Instead, they became integral to Minnesota’s cultural, political, and economic landscape as business owners, educators, healthcare workers, and political figures.
Trump’s comments also have broader implications. Debates about Muslim communities, immigration policies, and birthright citizenship raise the question of who is welcome in America.
Trump’s words have created questions around safety, belonging, and the future of Somalis in Minnesota and other states. The clash between Trump and the Somali community is not just about immigration. It’s about the promise of the American dream and what that future looks like. And, more importantly, who is allowed to participate in that future?
Curtis Scoon is the founder of ScoonTv.com Download the ScoonTv App to join our weekly livestream every Tuesday @ 8pm EST! Support true independent media. Become a VIP member www.scoontv.com/vip-signup/ and download the ScoonTv App from your App Store.
