Eivind Ertesvag 
Donald Trump has delivered many controversial statements over the years, but the remarks he made during a press conference Tuesday night have sparked outrage both in the United States and abroad.
During a lengthy cabinet meeting, Trump once again launched a harsh attack on Somali immigrants – and this time he went further than before.
Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the U.S., has repeatedly been at the center of the former president’s rhetoric. But now he is facing renewed criticism for using isolated incidents to generalize and cast suspicion on an entire group of people.
“I don’t want them in our country”
Toward the end of the meeting, Trump labeled an entire population in a way that shocked many in the room.
– They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country, he said.
He followed with yet another forceful attack:
– Their country is bad for a reason. Their country stinks and we don’t want them in our country.
The statements immediately triggered strong reactions—especially because Trump made no distinction between citizens, refugees, and newly arrived immigrants. Many of the people he referred to have lived in the U.S. for decades, run businesses, work in healthcare, and have children born and raised in America.
The remarks came just days after his administration halted all processing of asylum applications following a shooting in which two National Guard soldiers were killed. Although the suspect was from Afghanistan, Trump used the incident to bring up several other nations—including Somalia.
He also announced that he intends to terminate temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota, despite the fact that only around 700 people in the entire country hold this designation.
The move has raised questions about legality, and several legal experts suggest the president is attempting to “govern through fear” rather than through due process and factual basis.
Local leaders push back
For decades, Minnesota has been one of the most important safe havens for Somali refugees in the United States. Families have built shops, restaurants, transportation companies and tech firms, and Somali culture has become a defining part of the state’s identity.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was among the first to respond to Trump’s statements. He emphasized the stark contrast between Trump’s claims and reality:
– They have started businesses and created jobs. They have contributed to the cultural fabric of what Minneapolis is.
He called Trump’s comments “wrong” and “dangerous,” and questioned whether the president’s statements violate both constitutional principles and American values.
