Calls Somali immigrants 'garbage' during Cabinet meeting, demands removal from country

During a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump unleashed criticism on Somali immigrants, describing them as 'garbage' and saying he does not want them in the United States. Trump stated: 'We could 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 applied the same description to Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali American congresswoman from Minnesota. The remarks came amid increased attention to fraud scandals in Minnesota where most defendants are of Somali descent, and coincided with the announcement of ICE operations targeting Minnesota. Minnesota has the largest Somali community in the United States, with an estimated 80,000 residents, the vast majority of whom are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Omar responded: 'Trump's obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.'