In a heated and controversial cabinet meeting held on December 3, 2025, former President Donald Trump launched a sharp verbal attack against Somali immigrants and Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar. The incident has ignited a fresh firestorm in the ongoing American debate over immigration and national identity.
Trump's Explosive Remarks in Cabinet
The confrontation occurred during what was described as Trump's last cabinet meeting. The former president, highlighting a multi-million dollar fraud scandal in Minnesota that involved some individuals of Somali American background, used highly inflammatory language. He reportedly stated that the nation of Somalia "stinks" and that its people should be considered "unwelcome" in the United States.
Trump further claimed that these immigrants "contribute nothing" to the country. In his rant, he warned that the United States was at a critical "tipping point" and criticized past policies for taking in what he termed "garbage" people. His comments were directly linked to long-standing conservative concerns over immigration and the preservation of a specific vision of American national identity.
Focus on Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota Scandal
The attack had a clear political target: Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota and one of the first Somali-American women elected to Congress. By connecting his broadside against Somali immigrants to a specific fraud case in Omar's home state, Trump aimed to bolster his argument. The Minnesota scandal, involving millions of dollars, served as the factual anchor for his sweeping generalizations.
This is not the first time Trump has singled out Omar, but the language used in this cabinet setting, recorded and reported, marked a significant escalation in rhetoric. The remarks moved from policy criticism to a direct, derogatory assault on an entire national and ethnic group.
Implications and Reactions
The immediate aftermath of these comments is likely to be intense political fallout. Such statements from a former president and current political figure are expected to:
- Deepen existing divisions within the American electorate on immigration.
- Trigger strong condemnations from Democratic leaders, civil rights groups, and immigrant advocacy organizations.
- Galvanize Trump's political base, which often responds positively to his hardline stance on immigration.
- Place Republican lawmakers in a difficult position, forcing them to either defend, distance from, or condemn the remarks.
The incident underscores how immigration remains a potent and polarizing issue in US politics. Framing the debate around terms of national value, contribution, and identity, as Trump did, often sidelines more nuanced discussions about policy, integration, and legal processes. The direct attack on a sitting congresswoman also raises questions about the tone of political discourse at the highest levels.
As the news spreads, the focus will shift to official responses from the White House, Congress, and the 2025 presidential campaigns. The "stinky Somalis" comment is poised to become a flashpoint, referenced repeatedly in the ongoing battle over America's future immigration policy and its values as a nation of immigrants.
