Ilhan Omar hits back after Trump calls her and Somali immigrants 'garbage' and claims they 'contribute nothing'

Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar on Wednesday, in a befitting reply to US President Donald Trump’s latest remarks targeting her and Somali immigrants,  said that Somalis will not be scapegoated.

After Trump dismissed Somali Americans during comments at the end of a Cabinet meeting, the Minnesota Democrat said her community refuses to be intimidated.

“We are not, and I am not, someone to be intimidated, and we are not gonna be scapegoated. We are here, we are here to stay,” Omar said.

Omar described Trump’s repeated focus on her as “creepy and unhealthy,” arguing that he continues to vilify immigrants despite Somali families having lived in Minnesota for decades.

Her response followed a series of statements Trump made on Tuesday in which he attacked both Somali immigrants and Omar personally.

“They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country,” he told reporters. He continued, “Their country is no good for a reason. Your country stinks and we don’t want them in our country.”

Trump also escalated his criticism of Omar, who arrived in the United States after her family fled Somalia’s civil war.

“We can go one way or the other, and we’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country,” he said. “Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage.”

Turning back to Somali immigrants more broadly, Trump said, “These aren't people that work. These aren't people that say, ‘Let’s go, c’mon. Let’s make this place great.’ These are people that do nothing but complain.”

Trump said that Somali Americans "contribute nothing" and berated Ilhan Omar, an outspoken Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota who is originally from Somalia.

"Ilhan Omar is garbage. Her friends are garbage," Trump said.

"Let them go back to where they came from and fix it."