Somali defense minister rejects latest Trump insults
MOGADISHU— Somalia’s defense minister pushed back after former U.S. President Donald Trump again disparaged people from the East African nation, saying Somalis would not accept being demeaned.
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At a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday that was billed as a showcase of his economic record, Trump denounced migration from what he called “Third World” countries and singled out Somalia. “We always take people from Somalia, places that are a disaster, right?” he said, adding: “Filthy, dirty, disgusting, ridden with crime.” He went on to claim, “The only thing they’re good at is going after ships,” a reference to piracy off Somalia’s coast.
Last week, he described Somalis as “garbage” during a cabinet meeting, saying “they just run around killing each other.”
In a text message to Reuters, Somali defense minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi urged Trump to focus on fulfilling pledges to American voters “rather than busying himself with Somalia.” While expressing gratitude for U.S. military support against al Qaeda-linked militants, Fiqi rejected Trump’s characterization of Somalis.
“The Somali people are known around the world for their hard work,” he said. “They are known for their resilience in the face of adversity. They have faced hardships and many enemies including those who deny their existence, kill them, humiliate and insult them. They have overcome all of them and have survived.”
Trump escalated his attacks on Somalis after the shooting last month of two National Guard troops in Washington, a case that prompted him to promise to freeze migration from poorer countries. An Afghan national has been charged with murder in the Washington shootings and has pleaded not guilty.
Trump has long used racist and sexist language in public appearances and on social media. He has repeatedly called for the deportation of Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat and vocal critic of his who immigrated from Somalia three decades ago and later became a U.S. citizen.
Somalia remains a key partner of the United States in counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa, with U.S. assistance focused on training and supporting Somali security forces against insurgents aligned with al Qaeda. Fiqi’s comments underscored both the government’s reliance on that cooperation and its sensitivity to rhetoric he said demeans ordinary Somalis.
Trump’s latest remarks drew criticism from Somali officials and community advocates who say such language inflames prejudice against Somali diaspora communities in the United States and elsewhere. Fiqi’s rebuke sought to separate security cooperation from political commentary, pointing to Somalis’ contributions and resilience despite decades of conflict and displacement.
As Trump brings immigration to the forefront of his campaign messaging, his attacks on specific nationalities have stirred anger abroad and among immigrant communities at home. Somali officials have signaled they will continue to engage with Washington on security and development, even as they challenge language they say misrepresents their people.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
