In a recent political clash, Minnesota Democrats are urging their Republican counterparts to publicly denounce President Donald Trump’s inflammatory remarks regarding the state’s Somali community. This issue took center stage during Minnesota’s biannual state budget forecast on December 4, 2023, following Trump’s derogatory comments made on December 1, where he referred to the community as “garbage” and expressed a desire to limit their presence in the United States.
Governor Tim Walz opened his address with a strong condemnation of Trump’s language, emphasizing its harmful impact on Minnesota’s children. “We’ve got little children going to school today who their president called them garbage,” he stated. “Demonizing the entire group of people by their race and their ethnicity, a very group of people who contribute to the vitality economic culture of the state, is something I was hoping we’d never have to see.”
Calls for Condemnation and Republican Response
Walz’s appeal for Republican lawmakers to denounce Trump’s remarks was met with reluctance. During a subsequent news conference, Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, acknowledged the diversity within communities but refrained from directly addressing Trump’s comments. “What I will say is, there is not an entire community that is bad, and there’s not an entire community that is good,” she remarked, adding that she seeks Trump’s endorsement in her campaign for governor.
Senator Eric Pratt of Prior Lake, a candidate for Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, expressed his disagreement with Trump’s characterization of the Somali community. “I don’t agree with that, with the way it was described by the president. However, I share his frustration,” Pratt noted, emphasizing that many Republican leaders have distanced themselves from Trump’s rhetoric.
Pratt further acknowledged the issue of fraud within the community, referencing allegations that funds from Minnesota’s fraud schemes were linked to Al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization based in Somalia. He stated, “Fraud has really put a black eye on the state, and we are in the national news for all the wrong reasons.”
Democratic Leaders Unite Against Disparaging Remarks
The situation has prompted bipartisan criticism of Trump’s comments. House Leader Harry Niska, a Republican from Ramsey, described it as “embarrassing” that Minnesota’s administration prioritizes political correctness over protecting taxpayer dollars. He argued that the state’s unique fraud challenges stem from administrative incompetence rather than its immigrant population.
In stark contrast, Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and House Leader Zack Stephenson, joined Walz in unequivocally condemning Trump’s remarks. “I will unequivocally condemn them and mark them for what they are. A page of the oldest playbook in the world, used by demagogues across history,” Stephenson stated, underscoring the divisive nature of such rhetoric.
The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party continued its campaign against Trump’s language on December 5, as they sent a letter to all Minnesota Republican lawmakers, urging them to take a stand against the president’s comments. The Minnesota Somali community, which numbers nearly 80,000, plays a vital role in the state, with a significant portion residing in the Twin Cities.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also responded to the situation, asserting that almost all Somali Minnesotans are documented citizens. His remarks highlighted the integration and contributions of the Somali community to the broader social fabric of Minnesota.
As the debate continues, the focus remains on how Republican lawmakers will respond to calls for condemnation of Trump’s rhetoric and the implications for Minnesota’s diverse communities.
