On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump intensified his verbal assaults on the Somali community in Minnesota, sparking widespread outrage. During a fervent discussion about alleged fraud within Minnesota's social services, Trump made inflammatory remarks, referring to immigrants from Somalia as "garbage" and claiming they have "destroyed our country."
In his tirade, Trump also focused on Rep. Ilhan Omar, a prominent Democrat from Minnesota who represents the largest Somali American population in the United States. He suggested the possibility of deporting Omar, who immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12 and has since become a U.S. citizen. This provocative rhetoric adds fuel to the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration and the treatment of minority communities in America.
In response to Trump's derogatory comments, Omar joined NPR's Morning Edition to express her views. She condemned the former president's remarks as "vile," emphasizing that such rhetoric is not surprising coming from Trump, who has a history of promoting racism, xenophobia, bigotry, and Islamophobia throughout his presidency. Omar's insights shed light on the broader implications of Trump's statements on the Somali community and immigrant issues in the U.S.
To hear Rep. Ilhan Omar's complete conversation with NPR's Michel Martin, click the blue play button above. This segment dives deeper into the ramifications of Trump's comments and the ongoing challenges faced by the Somali American community in Minnesota and beyond.
This article has been edited by HJ Mai for the radio version and produced by Julie Depenbrock, with the digital text written by Obed Manuel and edited by Suzanne Nuyen.