Trump Reposts 14-Second Video of Somali Schoolchildren, Sparking Anger in Minnesota
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 11
Trump Reposts 14-Second Video of Somali Schoolchildren, Sparking Anger in Minnesota
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 11
Summary
Minnesota’s Somali and Muslim communities condemned Trump after he reposted a 14-second video of Somali American kindergartners singing at a St. Paul promotion ceremony, saying he had targeted children.
The backlash centered on Trump amplifying the clip twice alongside a post from the right-wing account End Wokeness that highlighted girls wearing hijabs in kindergarten.
Community leaders called the reposts a “red line,” arguing the president was vilifying children who were simply celebrating with their families at school.
The episode fits a broader pattern of Trump’s attacks on Minnesota’s Somali community, including insults toward immigrants, criticism of Somali children in schools and repeated attacks on Representative Ilhan Omar.
That campaign has also overlapped with policy pressure in Minnesota, including an immigration crackdown, threats to child care funding and investigations a judge said were meant to harass Democratic officials.