Somalis Condemn Trump’s Insults as Debate Over His Remarks Grows

Somalis expressed widespread outrage after Donald Trump made insulting comments about them and their country during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. His remarks, which quickly circulated online, reignited criticism of his rhetoric while also sparking a smaller counterreaction from those who felt his words highlighted difficult realities.

Trump described Somalis as “garbage” and stated, “we don’t want them in our country.” He added, “They just run around killing each other,” and concluded, “Their country stinks.” The comments added to his long record of using racially charged and offensive language while addressing global issues.

Abdisalan Omar, an elder from central Somalia, said he was stunned by the tone of the statements and urged global bodies to intervene. “The world should respond,” he said. “Presidents who speak in such a way cannot serve the U.S. and the world.”

How have Somalis responded to Trump’s latest remarks?

Trump escalated his criticism of people connected to Somalia after two National Guard troops were shot in Washington last week. He pledged to freeze migration from what he labelled “third-world countries.” The suspect in the shooting, an Afghan national, has been charged with murder and pleaded not guilty.

In Mogadishu, the comments triggered frustration among residents who saw the remarks as disrespectful and unhelpful. Bule Ismail, a 45-year-old construction worker, said such language had no place in public leadership. “In our culture, we do not use abusive language,” he told Reuters. “It is incumbent upon the U.S. and its people to take measures and to be angry with Trump first, then take Trump to a mental hospital for checkup.”

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre took a more measured approach during an innovation summit in the capital. While acknowledging the pattern of insults directed toward several countries, he advised the public not to elevate Trump’s words. “Trump has insulted many countries including Nigeria, South Africa. Some things do not need comment, we just leave and skip. It is better to ignore than to make his words look like an issue,” he said.

Why did some Somalis say Trump was speaking the truth?

Trump previously announced he would terminate temporary deportation protections for Somalis living in Minnesota, claiming “Somali gangs” were terrorising the state. He offered no evidence, and local officials rejected his claims as inaccurate.

Somalia continues to face instability driven by poverty, political tensions and attacks by the militant group al Shabaab, which is affiliated with al Qaeda and has attempted for nearly twenty years to overthrow the government. These ongoing struggles led a few Somalis to interpret Trump’s comments as blunt criticism of their leadership rather than an attack on the people.

“Trump said the truth but in unpleasant words,” said Samira Abdullahi, a Mogadishu resident whose land was taken by the government. “We have no government. Al Shabaab is looting and bombing all Somalis.”

By Lucky Anyanje