President Donald Trump sharply renewed his criticism of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and her native country of Somalia during a rally in Florida on Friday, linking his remarks to a broader push by his administration to combat fraud in federal programs.
Speaking to supporters in The Villages, Trump outlined what he described as a major crackdown on fraud tied to Medicare and Medicaid. He said the effort is being led by Vice President JD Vance and is targeting what he characterized as widespread abuse across multiple states.
“To further stop Medicare and Medicaid from being looted by criminals and thugs, we’ve launched a war on fraud,” Trump said. “You’ve been watching it in the papers; we’re all over Minnesota, California, all over the place.”
Trump claimed authorities are making arrests at a rapid pace as part of the effort.
“They’re taking down hundreds, and hundreds, and even thousands of people a week, in a day,” he said. “It’s led by our great Vice President JD Vance. He’s doing a great job.”
The president then shifted his focus to allegations of fraud involving members of the Somali immigrant community. He referenced past reports of fraud cases in states including Minnesota and California, while expanding his criticism to Somalia itself.
Trump described Somalia as lacking stable governance and security, making sweeping claims about conditions in the country. He also tied those remarks directly to Omar, who was born in Somalia and later immigrated to the United States.
“They come here, and Ilhan Omar,” Trump said. “Do you ever hear of her? She heads it.”
“Then she comes here, from Somalia, and she tells us how to run the United States of America,” Trump said.
🚨 NOW: President Trump GOES HARD against Somali Rep. Ilhan Omar and her "dirty" home country
"Get the HELL OUT, what a PHONY!"
"Somalia…filthy dirty, disgusting dirty. It's a horrible place!"
"They have nothing good. They say it's the WORST country in the world!"
"SHE… pic.twitter.com/l7w9BWofnz
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 1, 2026
Trump also took aim at what he described as Omar’s interpretation of constitutional rights.
“She tells us that the Constitution gives her certain rights, and she demands these rights,” he said.
The comments echo similar criticism Trump has made in the past regarding Omar, a member of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. His remarks also come as immigration and public spending remain central issues in his administration’s policy agenda.
During his State of the Union address in February, Trump announced what he called a “war on fraud” targeting abuse within federal benefit programs. He cited Minnesota as a major example, pointing to alleged large-scale fraud cases tied to pandemic-era aid programs and other government funding streams.
“When it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there’s been no more stunning example than Minnesota,” Trump said at the time.
He went further, claiming that members of the Somali community were responsible for significant financial losses to taxpayers.
“Members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer,” Trump said.
Trump also suggested the total amount of alleged fraud could be even higher, though he did not provide additional evidence during his remarks. He added that other states, including California, Massachusetts, and Maine, were facing similar or greater issues.
“We have all the information, and in actuality, the number is much higher than that,” Trump said. “This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation.”
Federal prosecutors in recent years have pursued multiple cases involving fraud tied to government programs, including investigations into misuse of pandemic relief funds and child nutrition programs. Those cases have involved individuals from a variety of backgrounds, and officials have not attributed such activity to any single group.
Omar has not immediately responded to Trump’s latest remarks. She has previously defended her record and criticized the administration’s rhetoric.
