At a Glance
- Trump accuses Somali immigrants in Minnesota of fraud and calls for their removal
- Claims 90% of Minnesota fraud stems from illegal Somali immigrants
- Federal agencies freeze child-care payments and investigate allegations
- Why it matters: The president’s statements and the government’s actions could reshape immigration policy and affect federal funding for Minnesota.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump used Truth Social to launch a new attack on Somali immigrants in Minnesota, labeling them as scammers and lowlifes and demanding they be sent back to Somalia. The post sparked a flurry of federal investigations and political backlash.
Trump’s Social Media Attack
Trump’s post accused the state’s Somali community of being responsible for up to 90% of fraud, and singled out Representative Ilhan Omar as a scammer, despite no evidence of wrongdoing.
- Accuses 90% of Minnesota fraud from illegal Somali immigrants
- Calls Rep. Ilhan Omar a scammer
- Demands Somalis be sent back to Somalia
Investigations and Federal Actions
The Justice Department, led by Aimee Bock, has been investigating fraud in Minnesota’s social-services programs, and in 2022 it indicted individuals in a $250 million child-nutrition scheme.
The allegations from right-wing influencer Nick Shirley prompted FBI Director Kash Patel to increase resources in Minnesota.
The Health and Human Services Department froze all federal child-care payments to the state.
President Trump stated:
> “Much of the Minnesota Fraud, up to 90%, is caused by people that came into our Country, illegally, from Somalia. ‘Congresswoman’ Omar, an ungrateful loser who only complains and never contributes, is one of the many scammers. Lowlifes like this can only be a liability to our Country’s greatness. Send them back from where they came, Somalia, perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth.”
Karoline Leavitt said:
> “Cracking down on fraud is a top priority for the Trump administration. We’re also not afraid to use denaturalization. That’s a tool at the president and the secretary of state’s disposal, and it’s one this administration has previously used before.”
Governor Tim Walz wrote on X:
> “This is Trump’s long game. We’ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It’s a serious issue – but this has been his plan all along. He’s politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.”
Political Reactions
Representative Ilhan Omar responded on X, calling the Trump administration’s threats to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota illegal and dangerous.
Omar wrote:
> “Somali TPS holders are our neighbors, coworkers, and small business owners. They’ve built their lives here. I led members of Congress in demanding answers on the administration’s legally dubious and dangerous threats.”
> “Trump’s obsession with me is beyond weird. He needs serious help. Since he has no economic policies to tout, he’s resorting to regurgitating bigoted lies instead. He continues to be a national embarrassment.”
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s rhetoric has prompted federal investigations and a freeze on child-care payments in Minnesota.
- The administration claims fraud is linked to Somali immigrants, though evidence is limited.
- Political leaders in Minnesota defend their communities and challenge Trump’s immigration policies.
The clash illustrates how Trump’s rhetoric on immigration is being matched by federal investigations and political pushback, with potential consequences for Minnesota’s communities and federal funding.
