Democrats condemn Trump’s remarks about Somali Americans as ‘xenophobic,’ warn rhetoric aids extremists
Senior Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday condemned President Donald Trump’s strongly derogatory comments about Somali Americans and Somalia, calling the remarks “xenophobic and unacceptable” and warning they could endanger U.S. interests.
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In a joint statement, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Sen. Cory Booker said Trump’s rhetoric targeted Somali Americans, including immigrants and refugees, and singled out a sitting member of Congress, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
“President Trump’s remarks disparaging Somalia, Somali Americans and Somali immigrants in the United States – including a sitting member of Congress, Representative Ilhan Omar – are xenophobic and unacceptable,” the lawmakers said. “Instead of using the power of the presidency to bring our country together, President Trump chose to attack an American immigrant community, the overwhelming majority of whom are law-abiding and have made many positive contributions to the United States.”
The statement followed Trump’s comments at a televised Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where he said Somalis “ripped off” billions of dollars from Minnesota every year and “contribute nothing,” referring to the state’s large Somali American population. “Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks, and we don’t want them in our country,” he said, adding: “We’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.”
On Wednesday, despite a swift backlash, Trump doubled down. “Look how bad their nation is. It’s not even a nation. It’s just a – people walking around killing each other,” he said. “These Somalians … have a representative, Ilhan Omar … she shouldn’t be allowed to be a congresswoman … and she should be thrown the hell out of our country.”
The Democratic lawmakers warned that the rhetoric risks more than domestic division. They argued that vilifying an immigrant community undermines U.S. interests overseas, fuels anti-American sentiment and creates openings for extremist groups to exploit. They specifically cited Al-Shabaab and ISIS as organizations likely to seize upon such statements for propaganda and recruitment.
“We must reject language that divides Americans and support those immigrants who contribute to our communities, economy and national security,” the lawmakers said.
Trump’s broadsides also landed in Minnesota, home to one of the nation’s largest Somali American communities and Omar’s congressional district. Community leaders and elected officials there have previously said that inflammatory statements about immigrants can translate into harassment and threats, and can strain relations between law enforcement and the residents they serve.
Trump has a long record of casting immigrants in criminal terms, a theme that was central to his 2016 campaign and has recurred in subsequent remarks. The lawmakers’ response links that pattern to a wider American history in which waves of newcomers — including Chinese, Irish and Italian immigrants — faced discrimination and racist rhetoric before later becoming accepted parts of the country’s social and economic fabric.
The lawmakers did not outline policy steps in their statement but framed Trump’s language as a test of national values at home and credibility abroad. Their message sought to rally support for immigrant communities and to signal that the U.S. intends to counter extremist narratives, not supply them with material.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
