US Representative Ilhan Omar has issued a stark warning against President Donald Trump’s latest verbal assault on the Somali community, branding his description of them as “garbage” as a dangerous incitement to violence.

The confrontation marks a volatile escalation in Washington’s rhetoric toward the Horn of Africa, striking a nerve not just in Minnesota, but across the extensive Somali diaspora in Kenya and the wider region.

Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, Omar, a Somalia-born Democrat, did not mince words. She characterized the President’s remarks as “completely disgusting,” cautioning that such language moves beyond mere insults into the realm of physical threat.

“These are Americans that he is calling ‘garbage,’” Omar asserted. “I think it is also really important for us to remember that this kind of hateful rhetoric – and this level of dehumanizing – can lead to dangerous actions by people who listen to the president.”

A History of Hostility

The congresswoman’s rebuttal follows a cabinet meeting where President Trump unleashed a tirade against Minnesota’s Somali population, suggesting they should be repatriated. His comments painted a dystopian picture of Somalia, a nation currently rebuilding its institutions with the support of African Union forces, including Kenyan troops.

“Look at their nation. Look how bad their nation is. It’s not even a nation. It’s just people walking around killing each other,” Trump declared, dismissing the sovereignty of the federal government in Mogadishu.

He further alleged that Somali immigrants have “taken billions of dollars out of our country.” For context, while exact figures on government aid specifically to the diaspora are complex, the flow of money is often the reverse: remittances from the US to Somalia are a lifeline, estimated at over $1.5 billion (approx. KES 194 billion) annually, supporting families who might otherwise rely on international aid.

Policy Consequences

The rhetoric is already translating into policy. The Trump administration has moved to restrict immigration cases for Somalis and nationals from 18 other countries. This crackdown has sent ripples of anxiety through the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area—home to the largest Somali population in the US—and by extension, to their relatives in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate and the refugee camps of Dadaab.

Local leaders in Minnesota are pushing back against the federal tightening. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey recently signed an executive order barring city officials from assisting federal immigration enforcement operations.

• The Claim: Trump alleges Somalis have drained "billions" from the US.
• The Reality: Somali-Americans are integral to the Minnesota economy, and their remittances stabilize the Horn of Africa.
• The Response: Minneapolis has prohibited the use of city property for federal immigration raids.

Writing in the New York Times, Omar argued that these attacks are a calculated distraction. She posited that the President is resorting to racist scapegoating because his campaign promises regarding the US economy have failed to materialize.

“This is not just about politics; it is about safety,” Omar concluded, signaling that the battle for the dignity of the Somali-American community is far from over.