ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz condemned President Donald Trump on for calling Somali immigrants “garbage,” remarks that he said were unprecedented and damaging to children and families across the state. Speaking with reporters, Walz said young Minnesotans of Somali descent “went to school today knowing their president called them garbage,” describing the comments as cruel and divisive. Minnesota is home to the nation’s largest Somali community, with roughly 84,000 residents in the Twin Cities and strong rates of U.S. citizenship among Somali-born residents.
Trump made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the week, where he also called Rep. Ilhan Omar “garbage” and said Somalia “stinks.” The comments came as the administration launched targeted immigration enforcement operations focused on Somali immigrants living unlawfully in Minnesota.
Some Republican lawmakers declined to defend the president’s language but acknowledged concerns about fraud tied to the high-profile Feeding Our Future scandal. Others said they shared frustration about corruption cases but would not have phrased the criticism as Trump did.
News From the States reported that Trump used similar rhetoric in extended comments about Somali Americans, framing the group as unworthy of belonging in the U.S.—a message Somali leaders and advocates condemned as dehumanizing and dangerous.
Walz said Somali Minnesotans contribute significantly to the state’s economic and cultural vitality and deserve respect, not vilification. He added that comments targeting an entire ethnic community undermine public safety and social cohesion.
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