Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Mogadishu on Friday to protest remarks by US President Donald Trump, who recently referred to Somali immigrants as “garbage.”
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump stated that Somali Americans “contribute nothing” and added, “We don’t want them in our country.” The comments sparked widespread condemnation in both the United States and Somalia.
Ridwan Mohamud, speaking at the Mogadishu demonstration, rejected the president’s characterization. “We are protesting against Trump’s insulting words calling us garbage,” he said. “We are not garbage. He is the one who is trash. Since he failed in his politics, he is trying to divert public attention.”
The United States is home to over 250,000 people of Somali descent, including Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a prominent critic of Trump’s policies. Protesters carried banners and images of Omar while chanting slogans denouncing the president.
“Trump has violated our dignity, and we will not accept being labeled as he called us,” said Fadumo Ahmed, another participant. “We are Somalis, and we have our own pride. He does not understand this.”
The president’s remarks appear to have been prompted by reports of social security fraud in Minnesota, a state with a significant Somali population. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other state officials quickly condemned the statements, emphasizing the insult to the state’s Somali community.
The protests in Mogadishu reflect broader outrage over the language and tone used by Trump, highlighting the global sensitivity to rhetoric perceived as demeaning toward immigrant communities.
