Trump reposts video of Somali kindergartners, drawing anger in Minnesota
Why it matters: The posts reopened tensions with Minnesota’s Somali and Muslim communities and prompted condemnation from civil rights groups.
President Donald Trump reposted a video of Somali American kindergartners singing at a promotion ceremony in St. Paul, Minnesota, triggering anger among local activists and civil rights advocates. The 14-second clip showed children in blue caps and gowns singing a Somali educational song, and Trump also shared a post from the right-wing account End Wokeness highlighting that the girls wore hijabs. Community leaders said targeting young children crossed a line after months of attacks on Minnesota’s Somali community. The backlash spread beyond St. Paul as national civil rights groups and state leaders criticized the reposts. A White House spokesperson defended Trump’s earlier remarks about Somali schoolchildren and immigration.