{
“title”: “Trump’s Targeting of Somalis Reveals a Dangerous Pattern of Scapegoating Vulnerable Communities”,
“content”: “
When a powerful political figure repeatedly targets a small, marginalized community, it reveals more about their political strategy than any genuine policy concern. President Trump’s consistent attacks on Somali Americans represent a calculated approach to energize his base through fear rather than addressing real issues. This pattern of scapegoating has historical precedents with devastating consequences, and the targeting of Somalis deserves serious scrutiny as it threatens both American values and democratic norms.
Scapegoating as Political Strategy
Trump’s focus on Somalis isn’t random or based on substantive policy concerns. The Somali American population in the United States numbers approximately 200,000 people—less than 0.06% of the American population. Yet Trump has implemented travel bans affecting Somalia, ended temporary protected status for Somalis, paused asylum applications, and consistently used inflammatory rhetoric about this community. This disproportionate focus makes little sense from a governance perspective but perfect sense as a political strategy.
The pattern follows a classic authoritarian playbook: identify a visibly different minority group, attribute complex societal problems to them, and position yourself as the protector against this manufactured threat. As State Senator Zaynab Mohamed astutely observed, the Somali community represents a convenient target because they occupy multiple marginalized identities—Black, immigrant, and Muslim. This intersection makes them particularly vulnerable to being portrayed as the ‘ultimate other’ in American society.
We’ve seen this strategy employed before. In 2016, Trump’s campaign frequently invoked the specter of MS-13 gang violence to justify anti-immigrant policies, despite data showing immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens. In 2018, his administration manufactured a crisis around the migrant caravan approaching the southern border, deploying troops and stoking fears that dissipated immediately after the midterm elections. The targeting of Somalis follows this established pattern.
The Trifecta of Vulnerability
As Jaylani Hussein from CAIR pointed out, Somalis face a ‘trifecta’ of vulnerabilities—they are Black, immigrant, and Muslim. This intersection creates a perfect storm for political exploitation. When examining other groups Trump has targeted, a pattern emerges: Muslims through the travel ban, Latino immigrants through border policies, and Black Americans through his rhetoric about crime-ridden cities.
The strategic value of targeting Somalis specifically becomes clear when considering Minnesota’s status as a swing state. By associating Somalis with fraud, extremism, and crime, Trump attempts to delegitimize not just the community but also their political participation. Representative Ilhan Omar, as the most visible Somali American in politics, bears the brunt of these attacks, recently being called “garbage” by the former president.
This strategy mirrors historical patterns of scapegoating. During economic hardship in 1930s Germany, Jewish citizens were blamed for financial problems. In 1980s Britain under economic pressure, Margaret Thatcher’s government frequently targeted Caribbean immigrants. The playbook remains consistent: find a visible minority, exaggerate their negative impact, and present yourself as the solution to this manufactured crisis.
Success as a Threat
Perhaps most revealing is Hussein’s observation that Somali Americans’ success contributes to why they’re being targeted. The community has demonstrated remarkable resilience and achievement—revitalizing neighborhoods, establishing businesses, and gaining political representation. This success contradicts the narrative that immigrants, particularly refugees, are a burden on society.
The Brian Coyle Center’s director, Amano Dube, highlighted how Somalis have built everything from scratch, becoming “extremely entrepreneurial” and involved in education, healthcare, and transportation. This success story threatens the narrative that certain immigrants can’t integrate or contribute positively to American society.
We’ve seen similar patterns with other immigrant communities whose success became threatening to political narratives. Asian Americans have faced increased hostility as their educational and economic achievements challenged narratives about merit and opportunity. Jewish Americans historically faced increased antisemitism during periods when their social advancement was most visible. Success that contradicts stereotypes often triggers backlash from those whose worldview depends on those stereotypes.
Alternative Viewpoints
Some might argue that Trump’s focus on Somalis stems from legitimate policy concerns about refugee vetting, integration challenges, or isolated cases of crime or fraud. These arguments deserve examination but ultimately fall short when considering the scale and tone of the rhetoric compared to actual data.
While any community may have individual cases of criminal behavior, the blanket characterization of an entire ethnic group based on isolated incidents represents textbook discrimination. The focus on Somali fraud cases, for instance, ignores that these cases represent individuals, not communities—a standard we don’t apply to white-collar criminals from majority groups.
Others might suggest that highlighting cultural differences serves legitimate immigration policy debates. However, when these discussions single out specific nationalities rather than addressing systemic issues, they cross the line from policy debate to targeting. A genuine policy discussion would focus on systems and outcomes, not demonize specific communities.
The Broader Danger
The targeting of Somali Americans represents more than just political rhetoric—it creates real danger. Reports of increased ICE activity targeting Somalis demonstrate how rhetoric transforms into policy action with devastating consequences for families and communities. When a former president calls a sitting congresswoman “garbage” based on her ethnic background, it normalizes dehumanization that historically precedes violence.
The impact extends beyond the Somali community. As Senator Mohamed warned, “The attacks won’t end with the Somali community.” Scapegoating typically begins with vulnerable minorities but rarely ends there. The normalization of targeting ethnic groups erodes democratic norms that protect all citizens from government overreach and discrimination.
What’s happening to Somali Americans should concern every American who values constitutional protections against discrimination. When we allow any community to be targeted based on national origin, religion, or race, we weaken the protections that ultimately safeguard all Americans from arbitrary government action.
“,
“excerpt”: “Trump’s persistent targeting of Somali Americans represents a calculated political strategy of scapegoating, not legitimate policy concerns. By exploiting the community’s triple vulnerability as Black, immigrant, and Muslim, Trump has created a manufactured crisis that distracts from real issues while energizing his base through fear. This dangerous pattern threatens both American values and democratic norms.”,
“tags”: [“Trump”, “Somali Americans”, “political scapegoating”, “immigration”, “discrimination”, “Ilhan Omar”, “marginalized communities”, “political strategy”]
}
