Trump draws criticism for calling Somalia a “fourth world country”
US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after reportedly referring to Somalia as a “fourth-world country” during remarks made in the Oval Office.
US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after reportedly referring to Somalia as a “fourth-world country” during remarks made in the Oval Office.
Trump further revived long-disputed claims against Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. In the remarks, Trump painted a bleak picture of Somalia, saying: “Somalia is a third-world, maybe a fourth-world nation. One of the worst, one of the most dangerous. They don’t have anything, they don’t have council, they don’t have government, they don’t have police, they shoot each other all over the place.”
He further alleged, without providing evidence, that Somali nationals were responsible for large-scale financial losses in the United States. “They come here, and they steal US$19 billion, that is crazy,” he said.
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Trump also repeated controversial and unverified claims about Omar’s personal life and immigration status, alleging wrongdoing despite her consistent denials.
“And Ilhan Omar, she married her brother, supposedly. I mean, there is a lot of documentation. That means she is here illegally and she is a Congresswoman,” Trump claimed.
“And I hope you will be looking at that or somebody else because she is one of the ring leaders here. She is bad news, really bad news. She is so bad for our country.”
Omar has previously dismissed such allegations as false and malicious. Responding to the latest remarks, she issued a scathing rebuttal.
“The most disturbing part of his unhinged comments is how comfortable he is in telling the world how stupid he and his followers are,” Omar said.
She added: “But I guess it’s expected from a man who regularly and publicly fantasized about sleeping with his own daughter and is clearly implicated in the worst paedophage cover-up case.”
The exchange marks the latest episode in a long-running and highly publicized feud between Trump and Omar.
One of the most notable flashpoints came in 2019 when Trump made remarks widely interpreted as telling Omar and other lawmakers to “go back” to the countries they came from, despite Omar being a US citizen and former refugee.
The comments drew widespread criticism from across the political divide.
Omar, a prominent member of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, has consistently criticized Trump’s policies on immigration, civil rights, and foreign affairs, accusing him of promoting discriminatory rhetoric, particularly toward Muslim communities and immigrants.
Meanwhile, Somalia, often cited in global discussions on development challenges, has in recent years made measurable progress despite decades of conflict and political instability.
With support from international partners, the Somali government has been working to strengthen institutions, improve security, and drive economic reforms.
Observers note that while the country continues to face significant hurdles, including insecurity and humanitarian concerns, it has also recorded gains in governance and counterterrorism efforts.