Ilhan Omar says Somalis will stay in the US regardless of Trump’s comments

WASHINGTON, DC: After a wave of public remarks from US President Donald Trump targeting Somali immigrants, Rep Ilhan Omar defended Minnesota’s Somali community.

Appearing on MS Now, Omar declared that Somali Americans are here to "stay,” directly pushing back on Trump’s suggestion that Somali immigrants should “go back,” and emphasizing that many are US citizens who will remain regardless of his rhetoric.

Ilhan Omar responds to Trump’s attacks on Somali immigrants

During a live appearance on MS Now, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar responded directly to Trump’s remarks about Somali immigrants. She sharply criticized the president, saying, “He's always been a racist, a bigot, xenophobic, and Islamophobic.”

Omar highlighted Trump’s history of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric, recalling, "We know that he called African nations a shithole in his first administration. We know that when he came down that escalator, he said he was going to stop Muslim immigration into this country,”

She added, “So it is not surprising that he is going after black immigrants in this country, and it's certainly not surprising that he's choosing a black immigrant community that is also Muslim.”

Omar reaffirmed her community’s place in the United States, emphasizing, “Most of us are citizens; our passports say we are nationals of this country. We love that Minnesota has welcomed us.”

She concluded by noting that many Somali Americans intentionally chose Minnesota because of its welcoming spirit. “Many of us have not been settled in Minnesota. We chose it as a home because the Minnesota people and the state are beautiful and very welcoming, and we are going to be here regardless of what the president has to say,” she said. The host echoed her sentiment, responding, “I agree.”

Trump and Ilhan Omar clash over Somali immigrants

During a December 2 cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump launched a series of harsh attacks on Somali immigrants, including Rep Ilhan Omar, whom he described as “garbage.”

Trump claimed, "We’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage.”

He asserted that many Somali immigrants “do nothing but complain,” adding that they “aren’t people that work” and come from “a country that’s no good for a reason.”

Although he acknowledged he did not know Omar personally, Trump accused her of criticizing the United States for years, calling her “incompetent” and “a real terrible person.” He also disparaged Somalia itself, saying the country “stinks,” and concluded, “We don’t want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it."

In response, Omar wrote on social media, "His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs. I am not going anywhere; I’ll be around longer than Trump."