On October 8th, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, took to Truth Social to declare that “The once Great State of Minnesota is being taken over by Somali Immigrants. There is Violence, Murder, and Mayhem all over the State. The people of Minnesota must fight back,” according to Reuters.

With this, not only did the President link the community to violence, murder and disorder but he also urged Minnesotans to “fight back,”.  This is not the first time the President of the United States has put Somalians on blast. In December 2025, during a televised Cabinet meeting, Trump called Somali immigrants “garbage,” said they contributed nothing to the United States and made clear that he did not want them in the country. He also targeted Ilhan Omar, the Somali-born US representative for Minnesota.

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The consequences of this debate are not confined to Washington or Truth Social. Reporting by the Associated Press has documented the anxiety experienced by Somali business owners and residents in Minneapolis amid immigration enforcement. At Karmel Mall, a commercial centre that serves the Somali community, business owners described declining customer numbers and financial strain as fears about federal enforcement spread.

For some residents, the uncertainty extends beyond their own immigration status. It affects whether they feel safe going to work, shopping in their neighbourhood or sending their children to school. This is where the language matters. When a president repeatedly describes a community as dangerous or unwanted, the political debate can reach people who have done nothing wrong and have no control over the actions of the individuals being discussed.