As US presidential elections near, some Somalis turn to Trump 

As the Somali community in the US becomes more established, the formerly ironclad relationship between them and the Democrats is beginning to show signs of strain in some quarters. Trump has surprisingly been making inroads. 

With national elections in the US slated for this November, a new and unexpected trend is emerging: Somalis supporting Donald Trump. 

Despite being a conservative community in terms of social customs and attitudes, Somalis have generally voted Democrat in every election cycle, making them part of an intriguing voting bloc: the religious progressives. For much of the past three decades, it has been rare to see a Somali aligned with the Republicans—a phenomenon that became increasingly uncommon as the party shifted further to the right and adopted anti-Muslim rhetoric, which became a core part of its platform during the War on Terror. 

This hardening against the GOP is a trend observed among other American Muslim communities. For example, George W. Bush enjoyed strong backing from American Muslims in 2000, commanding almost 70% of their vote, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations. However, the fallout from the War on Terror, with its repeated invasions of Muslim-majority countries combined with the domestic repression of Muslim communities, led 90% of American Muslims to vote against Bush in 2004. They subsequently gave a similarly strong mandate to Obama, with more than 85% of Muslims voting for him during both of his terms. In his first bid for the presidency, Donald Trump did not significantly alter this trend, as Hillary Clinton secured 78% of the Muslim vote. 

But as Ken Chitwood, a scholar of Islam in the Americas, points out, the gap between the social values of American Muslims and the positions of the Democratic party on some social issues don’t always fit. Consequently, “the landscape of Muslim political affiliation has shifted subtly over the past decade and a half,” writes Chitwood.  

Estimated to comprise around 300,000 individuals, the Somali community has been in lockstep with this trend too, despite notable successes among many Somali American politicians on the Democratic ticket. As Sheikh Tawakal Ismail, a Somali religious scholar and GOP supporter, told Voice of America: “There are differences, including issues related to racism, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and hate speech, but there are many other things we share in common.” 

Somali American politics 

Somalis are a relatively new immigrant community to the US, most arriving in the early 1990s and therefore integration and identity issues have been a struggle faced by many members of the community, both young and old alike.  

For the better part of the first two decades, political integration—and representation—were virtually nonexistent. This changed dramatically in 2016 with the election of Ilhan Omar, the first Somali American woman elected to Congress. Time magazine hailed her victory as historic. “My election win offers a counter-narrative to the bigotry in the world,” Omar said. “This is a land of immigrants, and most come here for opportunity, a second chance. It’s our time to fight for the America we know we can have.” 

In the years that followed, Somali Americans arrived. What began with Ilhan Omar led to at least 25 Somalis being elected to office after 2016, including mayors like Mohamed Egal in SeaTac, Washington and Deeq Dhalac in Maine, as well as state representatives such as Ismail Mohamed (who delivered his victory speech proudly in Somali) and Munira Abdullahi in Ohio. Munira was one of eight Somali women elected in the 2022 midterms. Overall, Voice of America reported that 14 Somali Americans won legislative seats across the US, many of whom, like Ilhan Omar, were former refugees. In March, Hodan Hassan, a Somali American Democrat in the Minnesota House announced she wouldn’t re-run, ending her 6-year term in office. “For many of us, this is personal,” said Hassan in 2019, when Biden faced off with Trump.  

What began with Ilhan Omar led to 25 Somalis being elected to office after 2016 

The connection between Somalis and the Democrats was part of a broader shift within the Muslim community, as the GOP lurched to the right, embracing bigoted and racist language as a central aspect of its political messaging during the Trump era. 

The Washington Post referred to the connection between the Muslim community and the left as the “blue Muslim wave” in 2018, a trend particularly pronounced within the Somali community. In a piece for Al Jazeera, Khaled Beydoun, a leading scholar on Islamophobia in the US, said that Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were the “most visible and leading symbols of the Muslim American political renaissance.” Beydoun challenged the notion that it was merely the “Trump effect” driving Muslim voters and politicians to the left, arguing instead that there is a “robust commitment to progressive values, the language of social justice, and a near collective shift towards the democratic socialist philosophy championed by Bernie Sanders.” 

This endorsement has not been without scrutiny from Somali Americans, however. The Democrats initiated the wars that devastated Somalia in the 1990s, Obama became the first US president to authorise airstrikes there, and Biden played a significant role in the repressive and Islamophobic War on Terror legislation that has had detrimental effects on the Somali community in the US. Biden’s support for Netanyahu’s devastation of Gaza has also led him to hemorrhage support in the Muslim community and Kamala Harris doesn’t appear keen to reverse course on that. But as Abdi Mohamed, a 26-year-old quoted by Foreign Policy from St Paul put it: “They’re all going to bomb us anyway. We might as well vote for the one who’s not going to be mean to us here.”  

The Democrats initiated the wars that devastated Somalia in the 1990s, Obama became the first US president to authorise airstrikes there, and Biden played a significant role in the repressive and Islamophobic War on Terror legislation 

As a relatively new community, the Somali population has provided reliable support to the Democrats, largely due to their progressive stances on issues like state-funded education, housing, economic opportunities, and health. Many Somali politicians, some of whom are refugees, draw on their own experiences to advocate for a more inclusive, migrant-friendly politics. For instance, in her memoir This Is What America Looks Like, Ilhan Omar reflects on her journey: “As a refugee who fled civil war as a child, I am still trying to figure out where I fit in—perhaps that is why the most important note I found stuck to the wall outside my office had only three words: You belong here.” 

Like Omar, Munira Abdullahi, 28, settled in the United States in 1998 after relocating from a refugee camp in northern Kenya—a region where hundreds of thousands of Somalis sought refuge following the outbreak of a devastating civil war in Somalia. Initially arriving in Utah, her family later moved to Columbus, Ohio, as their nomadic lifestyle persisted while they adjusted to their new homeland. 

Many Somali politicians, some of whom are refugees, draw on their own experiences to advocate for a more inclusive, migrant-friendly politics. 

Munira graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science and international Relations from the renowned Ohio State University—yes, the home of the Buckeyes. Nearly a quarter of a century later, she was elected as State Representative for Ohio’s 9th District and has drawn on that experience to pursue a politics focused on inclusion and the lifting of barriers for the marginalised.  

Omar is however also a visible Muslim, and her faith is an important part of her public profile and a thing for which she is recognised globally. She wears the hijab, is uncompromisingly pro-Palestine and sometimes even quotes verses from the Quran in her tweets. She is frequently targeted for her beliefs and was booted out of a foreign affairs select committee for her criticisms of Israel.  

Omar is however also a visible Muslim, and her faith is an important part of her public profile and a thing for which she is recognised globally. She wears the hijab, is uncompromisingly pro-Palestine and sometimes even quotes verses from the Quran in her tweets. 

Omar’s beliefs are rooted in her commitment to personal liberty. In her memoir, she states, “I’m a Muslim and live as such, but I’m also a humanist. Just as I believe in God, I also believe that we are all connected, regardless of our faith, belief in science, race, or country of origin.” As a result, she adopts a strong and defiantly progressive political stance, which has alienated some segments of the Somali community. 

An anonymous article published in The American Mind offers insight into what motivates some Somali voters to support the Democrats and why the basis of the relationship wasn’t entirely sound: “What we had was Muslims in an uneasy alliance with liberals because they felt the other side wanted to eliminate them.” The author, Dragoman, argues that this calculus has now changed. 

Salman Fiqy, 35, arrived in the United States on 20 January 2009—the day that President Barack Obama, a Democrat, was sworn in. Only 19 at the time, Salman had become an ardent Democrat in the years that followed, much like many from his community. 

After resettling in the United States, Salman obtained a degree in Biology from Minnesota State University in Mankato and eventually pursued a career in medical consultancy, settling down and starting a family of his own. 

Like many Somalis, he immersed himself in American culture, customs, and politics. He ran for State Representative in Minnesota as a Republican, which set him apart from many of his Somali peers who aligned with the Democratic Party. 

Mr Fiqy’s rationale for running as a GOP candidate was that Somalis in Minnesota have increasingly become middle class, and as Muslims, Somalis have socially conservative values they would like to see reflected in the people they elect.  

Despite losing in the election, he believes that the trend of Somalis voting Republican is gaining traction within the community. Mr Fiqy was among several Somalis at a pro-Trump rally in Minnesota this past summer, an event that made national headlines. An image of a group of young Somali men was displayed in another article with a placard that read: “Somalis 4 Trump”.  

Despite losing in the election, he believes that the trend of Somalis voting Republican is gaining traction within the community. 

These stories highlight how Somalis are becoming increasingly immersed in the American political landscape as they seek to establish their place, both as individuals and as a community. They also illuminate the tension that exists between their private social values and their public commitment to a form of government focused on improving society. This development has provided Trump with an opportunity to exploit that division and gain a foothold within the community. 

How Donald Trump swept in 

When Trump was first elected in 2016, it would have been unimaginable to see non-white individuals, including Somalis, supporting him. A 2016 poll by Pew found that 96% of black voters preferred Clinton over Trump. But even though Democrat Congresswoman Cori Bush described him as the “white supremacist in chief” for his Muslim ban and calling African nations as “shithole countries” among other things, he has been making modest gains.  

“No government, no police, and no peace” are the words that come to mind for most Americans regarding Trump’s views on Somalia and Somalis in general. He made the speech during one of the frequent incidents in which he targeted Ilhan Omar. “She’s telling us how to run our country”, Trump said just three months later. “How did you do where you came from? How’s your country doing?” 

Somalis, particularly those in Minnesota, became a target for Trump and the far right during his maiden rise to power and throughout his first term as president. Trump went so far as to describe the presence of Somalis in Minnesota as “a disaster.” 

Somalis, particularly those in Minnesota, became a target for Trump and the far right during his maiden rise to power and throughout his first term as president. 

As a result, many Somalis felt unwelcome in the Republican Party. However, that trend has changed. While it isn’t exactly clear when this shift occurred, it appears that the taboo surrounding the GOP and Trump has, to some extent, been broken. 

In late July, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, attended by thousands of his MAGA supporters. To the surprise of many Somalis, there were Somali Trump supporters standing in the front row on the podium behind him, broadcast live on Fox News—America’s largest right-wing media outlet. 

As Trump addressed his supporters, he spoke about how Minnesota had been resettled by a growing number of jihadist supporters, referring to Somalis. Yet, his Somali supporters stood firm in the front row behind him. Some might ask: how is this possible? 

Salman Fiqy was among those in the crowd and when asked by the right-wing news website Alpha News about his appearance at the rally, Mr Fiqy highlighted the values that he and what many Somalis share with the Republicans: concerns over crime, drugs, and social issues.  

But the shift can’t be wholly attributed to social attitudes as some Somali voters are also concerned about the state of the US economy, which has contributed to frustrations with the Democrats. 

Salma Hassan, 32, who requested that her real name not be used, is a healthcare professional in the Seattle metropolitan area. She has resided in the Pacific Northwest since her family’s arrival in the United States in 1996. “I’ve voted Democrat since I was 20, but I’ll be casting my ballot for Trump this November. That’s for sure,” she says.  

“Both my husband and I work, but even with two incomes, the cost of living has become a burden on us. Everything from rent to basic necessities has skyrocketed. In all my adult years, I’ve never seen it get this bad,” says Hassan.  

Inflation has persisted, the value of the dollar has dropped, and the cost of living has soared. Many Americans find themselves with their backs against the wall. A recession, deepening by the day, is impacting households across the country, including Salma’s, but the state of the economy isn’t the only pressing issue.

Salma explains that Islam is intertwined with Somali identity. Like the previous generation of Somalis, she holds her religion dearly and has instilled that in her children, expecting their beliefs to be respected. 

As stated in the First Amendment of the Constitution, which upholds the rights of every American regardless of race, colour, or religion, everyone has the freedom to practise their religion and worship as they choose. However, under the Biden-Harris administration, Salma feels that the religious beliefs of her and her family are being trampled upon as the Democrats usher in policies that alienate many communities, as she candidly said.

“Somalis are 100% Muslim, and every Somali, both at home and abroad, has the deen ingrained in them. On a societal level, I see things in the US becoming harder for Muslims, especially young Muslims,” she tells Geeska.