By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 3 December 2025 — Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, has downplayed recent remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump about Somalis, saying the comments are similar to statements he has made about other countries.
Trump, said he did not want Somali immigrants in the United States and referred to Somali communities as “garbage,” remarks that have drawn widespread criticism from Somali-Americans and international observers.
Speaking at the opening of the Sixth Annual Leadership and Innovation Forum in Mogadishu today, the Prime Minister noted that Trump had previously spoken negatively about several nations.
“The President of the United States has made offensive remarks not only about Somalia but also about many other countries,” Barre said, adding that responding to every comment could be counterproductive.
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“Sometimes there are things we simply need to overlook. At times it is better to let go such remarks,” Barre added.
Trump’s latest remarks, made after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, have drawn criticism from Somali communities in the United States and abroad.
