US President Donald Trump has come under fire following reports that he made a series of xenophobic comments about Somali immigrants during a cabinet meeting at the White House. According to sources, Trump allegedly referred to Somalis as “garbage” and claimed they “stink,” further suggesting that they should “go back” to fix their home country instead of “complaining” in the United States.
The remarks surfaced as reports emerged of a planned federal immigration enforcement operation targeting Minnesota’s large Somali community. State officials have raised concerns that such an operation could mistakenly target US citizens, as the Minneapolis–St. Paul area hosts one of the largest Somali populations in the world and the biggest in the United States.
Officials and community leaders have condemned both the alleged comments and the proposed enforcement action, warning that they could escalate tensions and fuel discrimination.
even though Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, has dismissed recent remarks reportedly made by US President Donald Trump, who described people of Somali descent living in the United States including Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar as “garbage” and pledged to expel them.
Despite the inflammatory nature of the comments, Prime Minister Barre indicated that his government would not be drawn into a diplomatic dispute, suggesting that Somalia remains focused on its own national priorities. His response comes amid heightened concern within the Somali diaspora, particularly in Minnesota, home to one of the largest Somali communities outside Somalia.
The reported remarks have sparked criticism from US officials, civil rights groups, and community leaders, who warn that such statements could fuel discrimination against Somali Americans.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
