Ilhan Omar Calls Trump’s Reported ‘Garbage’ Slur Against Minnesota Somalis “Completely Disgusting”

Representative Ilhan Omar on Sunday forcefully defended the Somali community in Minnesota after reports that former President Donald Trump described members of that community as "garbage." Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Omar — who was born in Somalia and represents Minnesota's 5th District — called the reported remarks "completely disgusting" and warned that dehumanizing language from a national leader can inspire violence.

Omar’s Response and Context

Omar emphasized that Trump’s words targeted American citizens:

“These are Americans that he is calling ‘garbage,’” she said. “This kind of hateful rhetoric — and this level of dehumanizing — can lead to dangerous actions by people who listen to the president.”

Fraud Cases And Local Reaction

Omar also addressed a wave of fraud prosecutions involving Somali residents in Minnesota. Dozens of defendants were convicted in schemes that federal and state prosecutors say involved false claims for meal reimbursements, medical services and other state benefits. One high-profile case involved the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, whose founder was convicted after prosecutors alleged the group submitted fabricated documents during the COVID-19 pandemic to claim food distributions that did not occur.

Omar said she was among the first members of Congress to call for investigations into the fraud and described the schemes as "reprehensible." She rejected claims that evidence shows stolen funds were funneled to extremist groups abroad, saying that if such a link existed the FBI and courts would have pursued terrorism charges.

Federal Investigations And Political Fallout

The Trump administration restricted immigration adjudications for Somalis and applicants from 18 other countries, raising concerns in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area about stepped-up enforcement. In response, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed an executive order barring the use of city-owned parking facilities for immigration-enforcement operations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his department was examining whether money from the fraud schemes was directed to al-Shabab, the Somalia-based extremist group, and House Republicans have echoed those claims. Omar dismissed the allegation as unproven and noted that campaign donations tied to some defendants were returned to her campaign "a couple years ago." House Republicans have also launched an inquiry into how the cases were handled by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

What Omar Wrote And Said

In an opinion piece for the New York Times, Omar argued that Trump has reverted to racist attacks as a political strategy amid frustration over unmet campaign promises, including economic goals. On CBS, she reiterated that disparaging language aimed at a community of American citizens is dangerous and unacceptable.

Key Facts: The fraud investigations unfolded over several years; at least one major set of charges had been filed three years earlier. The Feeding Our Future founder was convicted in March. Federal and state prosecutors pursued numerous defendants in separate schemes.