In a White House cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump used racist language to describe Somali people in Minnesota as criminals and “crooks.” He repeated the claim while also targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar, saying she was part of the same group of alleged criminals. He asserted that his administration had “got them” and claimed it was “putting the clamps” on Somalis for alleged fraud involving federal safety net programs. The fraud claims were described as largely based on debunked right-wing reporting. The piece also notes that Trump has pardoned many people convicted of financial crimes and public corruption, including a clemency decision involving more than $200 million taken from Medicare. It further states that Omar has faced Islamophobic conspiracy theories, calls for deportation, and resulting death threats and violence.
"In a White House cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Donald Trump used racist language to deride Somali people in Minnesota, blanketly describing the entire community as criminals. "They're all crooks, the Somalians," Trump said. "What they've done to Minnesota, the Somalians, they're crooked as hell." Trump then targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota), saying, "They're all crooks. Ilhan Omar. They're all crooks.""
"Trump further asserted that his administration had "got them," and that they're "putting the clamps" on Somalis who he claims are committing widespread fraud through federal safety net programs. These claims are largely based on debunked "reporting" from right-wing influencers. Trump frequently pushes baseless or exaggerated claims of fraud to justify slashing funds for public services, particularly in Democratic-run states, such as Minnesota."
"But despite his supposed crusade against fraud, Trump has pardoned dozens of individuals convicted of financial crimes and public corruption, including granting clemency last year to an individual who was found guilty of pilfering over $200 million in funds from Medicare. Omar has faced relentless bigotry from the Trump administration, with officials spreading Islamophobic conspiracy theories about her and calling for her deportation - rhetoric that has incited death threats and even stoked violence against her."
Read at Truthout
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