Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) praised Somali migrants as the “CEOs of the future” and claimed that Somalis were being criticized because people see “the kind of economy and entrepreneurship” they are trying to build.
While speaking at a Somali Networking Night event, Frey spoke about how Somali migrants contributed “so greatly” to the city of Minneapolis, and expressed that the city was proud to have them there.
Frey also noted that the Trump administration came after the “whole community” of Somali migrants.
“You saw quite directly back in January and February a federal government that was coming after a whole community, and our incredible Somali people. I think one of the reasons that they were coming after you is they saw the kind of economy and entrepreneurship that you’re helping to build,” Frey said. “They saw suddenly that the CEOs of the future are not all gonna look like me. The CEOs of the future are going to be from a thousand different backgrounds.”
Frey added that Somali migrants were “not just the CEOs and entrepreneurs of tomorrow” but of right now.
“Suddenly, you all are creeping up in brilliant fashion. You’re not just the CEOs and entrepreneurs of tomorrow, but of right now,” Frey said. “You are showing that.”
In January, President Donald Trump claimed to reporters that Somalians were ripping off the United States of roughly $19 billion. Trump added that his administration would “cut off funds to the Somali-related fraud corruption” occurring in states like California, Illinois, and Minnesota.
“The Somalians are ripping off our country, to the tune of, looks like $19 billion, but that’s only what they can find,” Trump said.
Trump’s comments at the time came after several citizen journalists highlighted “potential Somali fraud of taxpayer funding” in states such as Washington, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In December 2025, citizen journalist Nick Shirley shared a video where he visited several childcare centers in Minnesota that had allegedly received millions of dollars in federal aid.
As he was seen visiting the childcare centers, there did not appear to be any signs of children.
