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Progressive U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has pushed back against President Donald Trump after he launched a new wave of attacks against her and Minnesota’s Somali community. During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump went on a harsh rant in which he insulted Omar and referred to Somali immigrants in extremely negative terms. Omar quickly responded on social media, saying Trump’s fixation on her was “creepy” and suggesting he needed help.
Trump has recently increased his anti-immigration rhetoric, especially after the deadly shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC last month. The suspect in that case is an Afghan man who was brought to the United States in 2021 after the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump has used the incident to argue for strict limits on immigration from what he calls “third-world countries,” including Somalia. He claimed the U.S. was “taking in garbage” and personally called Omar “garbage,” saying she and others like her do not contribute to the country. He also accused Somali immigrants of constantly complaining and having nothing to offer.
Despite this, Trump admitted he does not know Omar personally but has watched her criticize certain U.S. policies for years. He described her as incompetent and “a terrible person.” Omar, who came to the U.S. as a child after fleeing Somalia’s civil war, is widely recognized as the first Somali American to serve in Congress. She represents a Minnesota district that includes one of the largest Somali communities in the country.
While Somali Americans have historically faced challenges such as higher poverty and unemployment rates, similar to other refugee groups, studies show the community has made significant progress over time. A Minnesota Chamber of Commerce report from 2021 highlighted that Somali immigrants have seen improvements in employment, income levels, and education since arriving in the state.
Trump, however, has continued to frame the community negatively. In response to the National Guard shooting, he has suspended migration from several countries and ordered a review of permanent residents from 19 nations. This comes despite the fact that both his first and current wives are immigrants themselves. Throughout his political career, Minnesota’s Somali community has frequently been a target in his speeches. During his first term, Trump introduced sweeping travel restrictions affecting several Muslim-majority countries, including Somalia.
More recently, Trump has tied the Somali community to a pandemic-era welfare fraud case in Minnesota, even though the case involved individuals from various backgrounds. He has also repeatedly targeted Omar over the years, criticizing her political views and her role in U.S. leadership. In 2019, he told her and other immigrant lawmakers to “go back” to their countries, sparking nationwide backlash.
The tension has escalated again in recent weeks. The Trump administration recently launched an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minnesota that appears to focus on Somali immigrants. Over Thanksgiving, Trump used an offensive slur to insult Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and accused him of ignoring alleged Somali gang activity. He also mocked Omar by making a comment about her hijab.
Progressive organizations and civil rights groups have condemned Trump’s latest remarks. Justice Democrats called his comments “disgustingly racist” and said he was trying to distract from his administration’s failures by creating fear and division. They accused him of stirring hate, targeting vulnerable communities, and using immigration enforcement as a political tool.
The escalating confrontation between Trump and Omar again reflects the growing tension around immigration, identity, and political division in the United States. Omar’s supporters say the attacks are meant to silence immigrant and Muslim voices, while Trump’s allies argue he is raising concerns about national security and social cohesion. As both sides continue to clash, Minnesota’s Somali community finds itself at the center of a national debate that shows no signs of calming down.