Listen to the article
After President Donald Trump’s bold statements at the World Economic Forum in Davos about the need to defend Western civilization, Somali-born activist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali has voiced strong support for his position, declaring that “Trump is right.”
Trump sparked controversy during his speech in Switzerland on Tuesday when he stated, “The West cannot mass import foreign cultures.” He specifically referenced Minnesota, saying the situation there “reminds us that the West cannot mass import foreign cultures which have failed to ever build a successful society of their own.” Trump characterized Somalia as “a failed state” with “no government, no police, no military, no nothing.”
The former president emphasized that Western prosperity came not merely from economic policies but from “our very special culture,” which he described as “the precious inheritance that America and Europe have in common.” He called for a defense of that culture and a rediscovery of “the spirit that lifted the West from the depths of the Dark Ages to the pinnacle of human achievement.”
Hirsi Ali, who experienced female genital mutilation as a child in Somalia and later fled to escape a forced marriage, strongly endorsed Trump’s message. “I don’t think it’s an important thing, I think it is the most important thing,” she told Fox News Digital. “Trump is right… and I can’t think of a better and more powerful platform than that of the president of the United States to say, ‘Hey, you guys wake up.'”
Having served as a Dutch lawmaker before relocating to the United States, Hirsi Ali has built her platform advocating for women’s rights, critiquing Islam, and supporting Western values. She emphasized the importance of cultural identity over other governmental priorities.
“I think every American and every European should know that what the president is trying to say is that what made America and Europe great is there’s this unique culture, if we don’t understand that culture and if we do not defend it, we risk losing it,” she explained. “The economy is very important. Military is very important. All these other aspects of government are extremely important, but more important than all of that is our value system and it’s our heritage and it is our national identity.”
Regarding Trump’s specific criticism of the Somali immigrant community in Minnesota, where a major fraud scheme was uncovered, Hirsi Ali said she “wholeheartedly” agrees with the president. She reinforced his assessment of Somalia’s failed state status, attributing the country’s problems to “the clan code, because of Islam, because of Marxism. We’ve had all the bad ideologies, and as Somalis we’ve run away with them.”
Hirsi Ali claimed there is a “subversive agenda in the United States to transform it and to Islamize it using American institutions and the American vocabulary of civil rights.” She accused Somali immigrants of exploiting the welfare system while deflecting criticism with accusations of racism and Islamophobia.
Her proposed solutions are direct and controversial. She suggests that European nations should follow the Trump administration’s approach by securing their borders and addressing their “too expensive” welfare systems. For Minnesota specifically, she advocated a hardline stance: “We’ve got to force them either to assimilate, or we’ve got to give them that choice and say, ‘If you don’t want to assimilate into American society, then you will be denaturalized.'”
Hirsi Ali characterized the situation as “existential” rather than merely political, and praised Trump’s Davos speech as a “breakthrough” in communicating to European leaders that defending Western civilization must be “priority number one.”
Quoting Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance, she concluded by emphasizing that the critical question is not what we are fighting against, but what we are fighting for and seeking to preserve. “If you can’t answer that question, then I think you are lost, and the European leaders are lost, and I think he’s trying to help them find their way,” she said.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
10 Comments
Trump’s comments on ‘Western civilization’ and ‘failed cultures’ are controversial, but Hirsi Ali’s endorsement suggests there may be some merit to his underlying concerns. This is a complex issue without simple solutions.
Agreed, the rhetoric can be divisive, but the core issues around immigration, integration, and national identity deserve serious consideration. Nuance is key here.
This debate touches on fundamental questions about national identity, economic policy, and social cohesion. While the rhetoric can be polarizing, the underlying issues deserve serious, nuanced consideration.
Agreed. These are complex challenges without easy answers. Finding solutions will require empathy, nuance, and a willingness to listen to diverse viewpoints.
This highlights the need to carefully balance immigration policies, economic factors, and cultural preservation. There are no easy answers, but open dialogue is important to find workable solutions.
Well said. Addressing these challenges requires pragmatism and empathy on all sides, not just political posturing.
As an immigrant myself, I can appreciate the need to preserve core cultural values while also embracing diversity. This is a delicate balance that requires wisdom and compromise on all sides.
Well said. Engaging in respectful dialogue, rather than demonizing different perspectives, is the best path forward on these sensitive topics.
Interesting to see a Somali-born activist supporting Trump’s warning about the challenges of mass migration and cultural integration. This is a complex issue that deserves nuanced discussion, beyond partisan divides.
I agree, these are sensitive topics that require thoughtful analysis. It’s good to hear diverse perspectives on this, even if we may not agree with everything.