Donald Trump Urges Minnesotans to Fight Back Against Somali Immigrants

President Donald Trump urged residents of Minnesota to "fight back" against Somali immigrants in a series of Truth Social posts on Wednesday and Thursday. Trump claimed the state is being "taken over" by Somali immigrants and cited widespread "Violence, Murder, and Mayhem." He called on Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to request federal assistance, offering that the federal government would "come to your rescue."

Trump justified his calls for aggressive immigration enforcement and restrictions on social services by citing a 2020 child nutrition program fraud scandal. U.S. Representative Tom Emmer supported these claims, alleging that state leaders allowed $9 billion in fraud to be stolen by Somali fraudsters. The rhetoric follows reports of gang-related shootings in the Twin Cities suburbs and federal charges against a Somali American teenager for an alleged plot to attack the Mall of America.

Governor Tim Walz dismissed the posts as a "deranged social media tirade" intended to distract from economic issues and the war with Iran. Other Minnesota officials, including Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, condemned the remarks as racist bigotry. Jaylani Hussein of the Council on American-Islamic Relations warned that Trump is "placing a target on the backs of Somali Americans."

Beyond Minnesota, Trump targeted Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, labeling him a "RADICAL Extremist" and "Terrorist Sympathizer." El-Sayed responded that Trump is using his faith to distract voters from the economic impact of presidential policies ahead of the November midterm elections.