Trump urges Minnesotans to 'fight back' against Somali immigrants
In short
President Donald Trump on Thursday wrote on Truth Social that Minnesota was "being taken over by Somali Immigrants" and urged residents to "fight back", adding that the federal government would "come to your rescue". He called Democratic Governor Tim Walz "an incompetent thief". Walz told Newsweek the posts were "deranged".
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President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Minnesotans to "fight back" against Somali immigrants in the state. "The once Great State of Minnesota is being taken over by Somali Immigrants. There is Violence, Murder, and Mayhem all over the State," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The Somalians should not be allowed to get away with what they are doing. They view you as weak and stupid people. Fight back Minnesota, fight back! If you need, the Federal Government will come to your rescue." [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Trump said residents had been "robbed, and abandoned" by the state government and called Democratic Governor Tim Walz "an incompetent thief who doesn't want to get involved." According to The Hill, he concluded that Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey "must immediately ask for Federal help — and leave the rest to us." [ 1 , 2 ]
Newsweek reported that the post came a day after the FBI and Department of Justice announced on Wednesday the arrest of 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, a U.S. citizen of Somali heritage, over an alleged terror attack plot at the Mall of America. The agencies accused him of speaking to a source online for almost two years about traveling to Somalia to join a Foreign Terrorist Organization and then carrying out an attack in Minnesota, Newsweek said. [ 1 ]
Walz told Newsweek: "The President's deranged social media posts can't distract from the fact that he's losing a war and driving up costs. He's lashing out at blue states because he can't land a punch on America's actual enemies." NBC News said the White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry about how Trump wanted Minnesotans to "fight back". [ 1 , 3 ]
Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the U.S., NBC News reported, adding that Trump's rhetoric had intensified after reports last year about dozens of people of Somali descent being convicted in fraud schemes. The Hill said the administration had targeted the community over a pandemic-era fraud scheme that stole hundreds of millions of dollars from a federally funded nutrition program, and that it ended temporary protected status for Somali holders in January. Newsweek noted that an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis and St. Paul in late 2025 led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Trump has previously called Somalis "crooks" and attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, who was born in Somalia, NBC News and The Hill reported. In 2025 Walz accused Trump of "demonizing" Somali migrants in Minnesota, according to The Hill. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks came a day after federal charges against a Somali American man over an alleged attack plot in Minnesota, according to Newsweek. NBC News reported that Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the U.S. and that the White House did not immediately explain how Trump wanted residents to "fight back".
Key facts
- Trump urged Minnesotans to "fight back" against Somali immigrants in a Truth Social post on Thursday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Trump wrote that "the Federal Government will come to your rescue" if needed. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Trump called Governor Tim Walz "an incompetent thief who doesn't want to get involved." [ 1 , 2 ]
- Trump said Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey "must immediately ask for Federal help", The Hill reported. [ 2 ]
- According to Newsweek, the FBI and DOJ on Wednesday announced the arrest of 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, a U.S. citizen of Somali heritage, over an alleged attack plot. [ 1 ]
- Walz told Newsweek the president's "deranged social media posts" could not distract from "the fact that he's losing a war and driving up costs." [ 1 ]
- Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the U.S., NBC News reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump wrote on Truth Social that Minnesota is "being taken over" by Somali immigrants and told residents to "fight back". [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Trump called Governor Tim Walz "an incompetent thief who doesn't want to get involved." [ 1 , 2 ]
- Trump wrote that "the Federal Government will come to your rescue" if needed. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What Trump meant by urging Minnesotans to "fight back". NBC News said the White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry on this, and Newsweek said it had reached out to the White House for clarification.
- Details of the alleged attack plot and the charges against Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud. Only Newsweek reports the arrest and links it to Trump's post.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsweek reports Trump's post, linking it to the arrest announced a day earlier, and carries Walz's response. [ 1 ]
- The Hill reports the post, including Trump's call on Walz and Frey to ask for federal help. [ 2 ]
- NBC News reports the post and says the White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry. [ 3 ]