Trump claims Somali gangs rule Minnesota Streets, slams Governor Walz

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

U.S. President Donald Trump ignited a political firestorm on Friday after using his Thanksgiving message to make explosive claims about public safety in Minnesota, alleging that “Somalian gangs” were “roving the streets” and accusing Governor Tim Walz of failing to protect residents.

His comments, delivered in a lengthy social media post, drew immediate condemnation from state leaders, civil rights groups and immigration advocates.

In his statement, Trump painted a dire picture of Minnesota, claiming that refugees from Somalia had “taken over” the state and that gang activity linked to the community had left residents “locked in their apartments and houses hoping they will be left alone.”

He offered no evidence to support the assertions, which contradict available crime data and have been rejected repeatedly by Minnesota officials.

The president went on to attack Governor Walz in harsh personal terms, accusing him of being paralysed by “fear” or “incompetence.”

Trump claimed Walz had done “nothing” to address alleged gang activity, suggesting his leadership had allowed the state to fall into disorder.

The governor’s office responded by saying Trump’s remarks were “dangerous, false, and intended to inflame.”

Law enforcement officials in Minnesota have consistently reported that crime trends involving Somali-American communities mirror those of other population groups and do not resemble the large-scale organised criminal networks described in Trump’s post. Community leaders accused the president of “reviving old stereotypes” and targeting a minority group for political gain.

Trump’s attack also revived his long-running feud with Representative Ilhan Omar, whom he criticised using disparaging language.

Omar, a Somali-born lawmaker who has frequently been the focus of Trump’s rhetoric, responded by accusing the president of “spreading lies about immigrants while promoting fear and division.”

While the message was framed as a Thanksgiving greeting, it quickly shifted into a pledge to overhaul U.S. immigration policy if he returns to office.

Trump vowed to pause migration from what he called “Third World countries,” revoke federal benefits for non-citizens, deport those he labelled “public charges,” and pursue what he described as “reverse migration.”