Former ABC reporter Terry Moran slams Trump for calling Somalis 'garbage'

WASHINGTON, DC: Former ABC reporter Terry Moran criticized President Donald Trump for calling Rep. Ilhan Omar and Somali immigrants "garbage" and slammed his cabinet for failing to push back on the remarks.

Trump made the comments on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, as his administration reportedly stepped up immigration enforcement against undocumented Somalis in Minnesota.

Terry Moran says Trump's cabinet 'sold their souls' to President

In a video posted hours after Trump’s remarks, Terry Moran said, "They sold their souls to Trump! And think of the cost."

He added that most members of the Trump administration, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, knew the president’s comments were inappropriate. "But not a single one, not one, said a word. And they never will," Moran said.

During the Cabinet meeting, Trump described Omar and other Somali immigrants as "garbage," saying, "We keep taking in garbage to our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. Her friends are garbage. These people come from…"

Trump also said he would be happy to see Somalis leave the country. "They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you. Some will say that is not politically correct. I don’t care. Their country is no good for a reason," the president said.

His remarks followed a The New York Times report claiming some Somali residents in Minnesota orchestrated a fraud scheme that allegedly stole "more than $1 billion in taxpayers’ money." Trump suggested the report showed Somali immigrants were hurting America. He also attacked Omar personally, saying, "For years I’ve watched her complain about our Constitution… how she is treated badly. The United States is a bad place and hates everybody, hates Jewish people, hates everybody. She’s a terrible person." 

Criticizing the president, Moran said, "Presidents should not talk like that. No decent person should call any other person ‘garbage.’ But Trump does it, not just because he is that kind of man, but for political reasons. He wants to drag people down to his level, give them permission to become the worst version of themselves, and join him in remaking our country in his image." 

Ilhan Omar condemns Trump’s 'garbage' remark

Rep Ilhan Omar condemned Trump’s language on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Taking to X, she wrote, "His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs." She also addressed allegations regarding her marriage, stating, "I am not going anywhere; I’ll be around longer than Trump."

Omar represents a Minnesota district with one of the largest Somali diaspora communities in the United States. Despite challenges such as higher poverty and unemployment rates common among refugee groups, a 2021 report from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce noted rising workforce participation, increasing median household income, and gains in educational attainment among Somali residents.