President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Somalia and Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, arguing that the United States is better off without asylum seekers from Somalia and without Omar in Congress. Trump made these comments while speaking to reporters on Air Force One and posting statements online, following his decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia. His administration claims the move comes after reports alleging fraud within parts of Minnesota’s Somali community and concerns about money being sent abroad for harmful activities.
Trump accused Somali gangs of causing problems in Minnesota and claimed large amounts of taxpayer money were unaccounted for. He stated that Somali asylum seekers and refugees have created safety issues and argued that Omar, who was born in Somalia, does not support American values. Omar responded by saying that the majority of Somalis in the U.S. are citizens and that Trump’s decision would not affect them. She insisted that Somali-Americans are “here to stay” and criticized Trump for targeting her community.
Omar later held a press conference with Minnesota Democratic lawmakers, arguing that Trump does not have the legal authority to end TPS for Somalia. She said the corruption Trump mentioned was not widespread and accused him of putting Somali-Americans at risk with his rhetoric. She also rejected claims that Somali migrants are responsible for major crime issues in Minnesota.
After a recent attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C., reportedly involving an Afghan suspect, Trump said he would block asylum claims from countries he considers unstable or dangerous. He specifically named Somalia, saying the U.S. should not accept migrants from places with weak governments or ongoing conflict. According to Trump, migrants from such countries “come into our country and tell us how to run it,” something he argued Americans do not want.
Trump also repeated long-standing accusations about Omar’s personal life and immigration history. He suggested she entered the U.S. through improper means and mentioned claims that she once married her brother to help him stay in the country. Omar has strongly denied these allegations for years, calling them offensive and false. Nonetheless, the claims have continued to circulate, fueled partly by interviews from individuals who claim to know her. They allege that Omar married her brother so he could attend school in the U.S. and apply for financial aid. These accounts have not been proven, and Omar has dismissed them as politically motivated rumors.
In his remarks, Trump argued that if the allegations about Omar were true, she should not be serving in Congress and should be removed from the United States. He also criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, accusing him of failing to address crime and issues within the Somali community. Trump said he plans to keep asylum restrictions in place “for a long time,” emphasizing that the U.S. has “enough problems” and does not need migrants from “countries that are not friendly to us.”
Omar’s office did not respond to questions about Trump’s latest statements. The debate between Trump and Omar reflects a larger national conversation about immigration, refugee programs, and how the U.S. should handle migrants from conflict-affected regions. It also highlights the political tension between Trump’s America First approach and Omar’s stance that immigrant communities deserve protection and respect within the country.
