Trump calls Somalis “garbage” and “people with no country” after cabinet meeting

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump delivered harsh remarks targeting Somalis after speaking to reporters following a meeting with his Cabinet at the White House. Trump said Somalis were “people with something wrong with them”, “have no country”, and “only know how to kill each other.”

Trump escalated his verbal attack, saying: “When I see someone named Ilhan Omar — someone I don’t know but have watched for years — she complains about our country and our Constitution and says this is a bad nation. She is a bad person who doesn’t do her job.”

Speaking about Minnesota, Trump accused Somalis of “destroying a once-beautiful state” and “draining its economy.” He claimed they cost the country “billions of dollars every year” and “bring nothing to the United States.” He added that “88% of refugee funds go to them,” saying, “To be honest, I don’t want them to stay in this country.”

Using language widely viewed as offensive, Trump said “Somalia smells or is a rotten place,” warning that America “will end up in a bad place if garbage people are gathered here.” He directly attacked Ilhan Omar, calling her “garbage” and saying “her friends are garbage,” accusing them of doing “nothing but complain, even though nothing exists where they came from.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, city council member Jamal Osman, and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara addressed reporters afterward, expressing concern over Trump’s comments. City officials reiterated that Minneapolis police “do not assist federal immigration enforcement” following reports that federal agencies were preparing operations targeting Somali residents.

Trump’s remarks and the ensuing reactions have heightened fear among Somali communities in Minnesota and across the United States, raising concerns about profiling, discrimination, and increased legal pressure.

The Somali government has not yet issued a response to Trump’s statements, in which he described Somalia as “a place where nothing exists.”

GAROWE ONLINE