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Former President Donald Trump intensified his anti-immigrant rhetoric during a campaign rally in Minnesota on Saturday, declaring that Somali immigrants “contribute nothing” to American society and expressing a desire to remove them from the country.
“The people of Minnesota are being absolutely destroyed and devastated by migrants and refugees from Somalia,” Trump told the crowd in Grand Rapids, a small city about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. “They’re coming in from all over the world. They’re destroying your state.”
The remarks represent one of Trump’s most explicit attacks yet on a specific immigrant community as he seeks to return to the White House. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali diaspora in the United States, with an estimated 80,000 residents of Somali descent, many of whom are naturalized citizens or were born in the U.S.
Trump specifically targeted Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat who came to the United States as a refugee from Somalia in the 1990s. “They say she’s a wonderful person. Well, she doesn’t seem to like our country very much,” Trump claimed, without providing evidence for his assertion.
The comments have drawn swift condemnation from civil rights groups and Democratic officials, who characterized them as xenophobic and dangerous. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called Trump’s statements “un-American” and defended Somali-Americans as vital contributors to the state’s economy and culture.
“These kinds of divisive statements threaten the safety of our neighbors and undermine the fabric of our communities,” Walz said in a statement Sunday. “Minnesota’s Somali community includes entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, educators, and public servants who strengthen our state every day.”
The Somali American community in Minnesota has established deep roots since the first significant wave of refugees arrived in the early 1990s following civil war in Somalia. Many Somali immigrants have opened businesses, particularly in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, known locally as “Little Mogadishu.”
According to economic analysis by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Somali-owned businesses generate millions in tax revenue and employ thousands of people across the state. Somali-Americans also play crucial roles in healthcare, education, and manufacturing sectors throughout Minnesota.
Immigration policy has been a cornerstone of Trump’s political identity since he announced his first presidential campaign in 2015, when he characterized Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists. During his administration, he implemented numerous restrictive immigration policies, including a controversial travel ban that initially targeted several predominantly Muslim countries, including Somalia.
Trump has promised to expand deportations and implement even stricter immigration policies if elected to a second term. At Saturday’s rally, he pledged to “stop the migrant invasion” on “day one” if returned to office.
Political analysts note that Trump’s focus on the Somali community in Minnesota may be strategic. While Minnesota has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1972, Trump came within 1.5 percentage points of winning the state in 2016. His campaign views flipping Minnesota as a potential path to victory in November.
Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris condemned Trump’s remarks during a campaign stop in Detroit on Sunday. “This kind of rhetoric has no place in America,” Harris said. “It sows division when we need unity and targets hardworking communities who contribute immensely to our nation.”
Community leaders in Minnesota expressed concern about potential backlash. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told reporters: “When a former president uses his platform to demonize an entire community, it puts real people at risk. We’ve seen hate crimes increase after similar rhetoric in the past.”
As the November election approaches, Trump’s immigration messaging appears to be growing more pointed and specific, raising alarms among civil rights advocates who fear the real-world consequences of such divisive language on vulnerable communities.
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10 Comments
It’s troubling to see such blatantly prejudiced statements against a specific immigrant group. We should be celebrating diversity, not attacking it.
Absolutely. Broad, unfounded claims about the value of immigrants are not only factually incorrect but also deeply damaging to social harmony.
Immigrants, including Somali-Americans, make valuable contributions across many sectors. Broad generalizations about their value are simply not grounded in facts.
You’re right. Dismissing entire communities in this way is counterproductive and goes against the principles of a diverse, inclusive society.
This type of rhetoric is deeply concerning and does nothing to address legitimate policy challenges. We need solutions that bring people together, not drive them apart.
Agreed. Scapegoating immigrants for political gain is both unethical and detrimental to social cohesion. We should strive for more nuanced, humane dialogue.
It’s concerning to see such inflammatory language used against a vulnerable immigrant community. We should be embracing diversity, not stoking division.
Absolutely. Demonizing immigrants often stems from a lack of understanding. We’d do better to engage with their experiences and perspectives.
Divisive rhetoric about immigrants often ignores their real contributions to society. We should focus on facts, not unsubstantiated claims.
Agreed. Scapegoating specific immigrant groups is unproductive and harmful. We need policies based on evidence, not prejudice.