Donald J. Trump has many political talents, but foresight is not one of them. In singling out Somali-Americans — a community that has clawed its way through war, exile, oceans, and the grinding machinery of American bureaucracy — he has cracked open a Pandora’s box that will not close again. And inside that box is something Trump never anticipated: a fearless, unbreakable Somali fighting spirit sharpened over centuries, and a rapid, organized American response that has turned his attack into a strategic blunder.
Trump thought he could unleash the megaphone of the White House against one of America’s most resilient immigrant communities. In a Cabinet meeting, he declared of Somalis, “I don’t want them in our country” and stated the U.S. would “go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage”. He assumed Somali-Americans would cower, scatter, fold under the weight of a presidential assault and the immediate launch of “Operation Metro Surge,” an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. He assumed wrong.
The Somali Spirit Meets the MAGA Machine
Trump’s political survival has often depended on targeting immigrants and Muslims. This time, he miscalculated. Somali-Americans are not a silent community. They are not powerless guests. They are Americans: of the roughly 84,000 to 98,000 Somali-Americans in Minnesota, the vast majority—estimated at 83% nationally—are naturalized U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
They are business owners, state legislators, city council members, and a U.S. Representative. Their defiance was immediate. “I am not garbage. I’m a proud American citizen,” said Hamse Warfa, a Somali-born entrepreneur in Minneapolis. This sentiment echoes from a community that understands a painful truth: when the president puts a “bull’s eye” on you, it encourages others to become “more radicalized”. The fear is real—businesses in cultural hubs like Karmel Mall closed, medical appointments were canceled, and people were afraid to leave home. Minneapolis City Council member Jamal Osman, a naturalized citizen, advised constituents to carry their passports, drawing a stark historical parallel.
Yet, the community’s response has been one of disciplined mobilization, not retreat. Organizations scheduled “legal observer training,” established emergency hotlines, and created private networks to share photos of unmarked cars and masked agents. As one community leader put it, “Is there fear? Absolutely. But no one is tucking behind their tail”.
America Responds — And Trump Hates It
Across the United States — and notably throughout Minnesota — Americans of every color and political stripe are rejecting Trump’s attempt to isolate the Somali community.
Political Leadership:
· Governor Tim Walz (D): Called Trump’s statements “vile, racist lies,” and declared that anyone unable to condemn them is “complicit”.
· Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D): Stood with the community, prompting Trump to dismiss him as a “fool”.
· Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara: Attended interfaith prayer services and, citing concerns over impersonators, told residents to call 911 if unsure about individuals claiming to be federal agents.
Trump wanted a wedge issue; instead he has triggered a coalition. He wanted fear; instead he has ignited a resolve to protect neighbors. He wanted to intimidate; instead he has exposed his own playbook. As Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan stated, this operation is about “striking fear into the hearts of Minnesotans” to distract from a failed record.
Pandora’s Box Is Now Wide Open
Trump doesn’t understand Somalis. A people whose kin in Mogadishu run a city’s only free ambulance service, operate the nation’s first rape crisis center, and build new businesses amid insecurity will not collapse because one man with a bullhorn shouts insults. The diaspora thrives everywhere it lands. Trump imagined he was attacking a small, vulnerable minority. In reality, he struck a transnational community with a generational memory of survival.
He has awakened a political force he cannot control, as seen in the swift launch of initiatives like a campaign for a Somali Heritage Month.
He has energized a voting bloc he cannot suppress—citizens who are now more politically organized than ever.
He has provoked a cultural pride he cannot silence, echoing from Minnesota to Galkayo, where citizens push back by highlighting their resilience and contributions.
Somalis do not fight small fights. And when they fight, they do not lose.
Trump’s Worst Strategic Mistake
In trying to humiliate Somali-Americans, Trump has humiliated himself. In trying to bully them into silence, he has made them louder and more organized. In trying to single them out, he has fused them into a political force and rallied Americans behind them.
His instinct to vilify, honed on other immigrant groups, has this time detonated in his hands. He has united Somalis and their allies in common cause, transforming a moment of fear into a catalyst for powerful, structured defense and advocacy.
Watch What Happens Next
If Trump thinks he can win elections by targeting Somali-Americans, he is about to receive a political lesson in Somali resilience.
For every insult he throws, Somali-Americans become more organized, expanding legal networks and community watches.
For every threat he makes,they become more mobilized, asserting their American identity with defiant pride.
For every policy he weaponizes,they become more entrenched in the American fabric than he ever imagined.
Trump opened the Somali Pandora’s Box. Inside was not the chaos he sought, but the formidable spirit of a community that has overcome hell, and the solidarity of a nation that remembers its ideals. He will not like what comes out of it.
Watch this space. The Somali spirit is awake — and it does not sleep again.
WAPMEN Editorial Board
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 