Former President Donald Trump delivered a series of sharply critical remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Somalia, and Somali immigrants during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday. His comments came as national attention intensified around reports of large-scale fraud investigations involving individuals in Minnesota’s Somali community.

Speaking during the public portion of the meeting, Trump addressed questions from reporters and used the opportunity to criticize Omar—who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, home to the largest Somali population in the United States. He also made sweeping negative generalizations about Somalia, comments that immediately reignited controversy.

“I don’t want them in our country,” Trump said when referring broadly to Somali immigrants, dismissing concerns about political correctness. He went on to describe Somalia in disparaging terms, characterizing it as lacking functioning governmental structure. Trump then shifted back to Omar, accusing her of harboring hostility toward the United States and calling her “incompetent,” among other criticisms.

Omar responded shortly after the meeting by posting a clip of Trump’s comments on social media along with her own message: “His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.”

The exchange unfolded at a time when some Minnesota state officials and media reports have highlighted serious allegations of fraud tied to pandemic-era relief programs. According to The New York Times, 59 individuals—many of Somali descent—have been convicted over the past several years for their role in schemes involving improper claims on publicly funded programs. Prosecutors say the total losses amount to more than $1 billion. Trump cited those cases during the meeting, arguing that Minnesota had been “ripped off” by fraudulent actors.

Also contributing to the political tension was a recent social media post from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who sat beside Trump during the Cabinet meeting. Noem wrote on Monday night that she supported imposing a travel ban on “every country” she claimed had been sending criminals to the United States—comments that critics described as inflammatory.

Trump extended his criticisms later in the meeting by again targeting Omar and Somali immigrants, using harsh language to characterize those he believes are not contributing to the country. He asserted that individuals who leave troubled nations should not “complain” about the United States.

The former president’s comments coincided with a report from NBC News indicating that Immigration and Customs Enforcement planned enforcement activity in the Minneapolis–St. Paul region in the coming days. A senior law enforcement official told the outlet that while the operation was not specifically aimed at Somali communities, individuals violating immigration laws—regardless of nationality—could be detained.

The Cabinet meeting itself had spanned more than two hours before the exchange about Minnesota arose. A reporter asked whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz should resign due to alleged oversight failures connected to the fraud cases. Trump used the question as an opening to highlight his complaints about the situation in Minnesota, asserting that the state had been defrauded significantly and repeatedly.

For several years, a group of nearly 500 employees within Minnesota’s Department of Human Services has operated an anonymous account on X (formerly Twitter) describing what they claim are persistent cases of financial abuse involving state aid programs. According to these employees, internal warnings about potential fraud went unanswered, and some staff members who raised concerns reportedly faced retaliation. In their latest public statement, they alleged that Gov. Walz did not take action when alerted to potential issues and that some employees who attempted to report problems internally experienced punitive responses.

These allegations have added complexity to an already charged political environment. Omar has frequently been the target of criticism from Trump and his supporters, often tied to her outspoken positions on U.S. foreign policy and domestic issues. She has repeatedly rejected accusations that she is disloyal to the United States, framing Trump’s attacks as politically motivated and rooted in xenophobia.

The combination of Trump’s comments, the reported ICE activity, ongoing legal proceedings in Minnesota, and the accusations made by state employees has reignited debates surrounding immigration enforcement, public assistance programs, and the treatment of immigrant communities. As reactions continue to spread across political and media circles, the broader implications of the fraud cases—and the rhetoric surrounding them—remain at the center of a highly polarized national conversation.