Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagon donned a hijab while touring the Somali community in her state to express solidarity — and it triggered a meltdown among far-right activists, Newsweek reported on Friday.
Flanagan is one of the main Democratic candidates for Minnesota's open Senate seat, the other being Rep. Angie Craig.
"At the Karmel Somali Market ... Flanagan — flanked by Somali leaders and speaking in part in Arabic — opened with the greeting 'Salam alaikum' and told viewers: 'The Somali community is part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota,'" said the report. "In footage aired on Somali-language television, Flanagan — who is Catholic and Native American — stood beside local Somali leaders at the Karmel Market and thanked the community for its friendship."
“Being part of Minnesota and growing up here, the Somali community has always been a part of my Minnesota,” said Flanagan, encouraging Minnesotans to “show up and support our Somali businesses and our immigrant neighbors.”
This triggered an immediate fury from pro-Trump commenters, with far-right former congressional candidate and Trump confidante Laura Loomer writing, “Any politician who embraces Islam must be removed from office,” and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon writing that her event was an exhibition of "Christians / Catholics 'Bending the Knee'" to appease an “entitled Somalian thug ethos.”
Trump has leveled targeted attacks at Somali-American communities in recent weeks and has frequently called for the deportation of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who came from Somalia as a refugee at a young age. He has used a criminal case alleging widespread benefits fraud in Minnesota, perpetrated by a handful of people who came from the Somali community, to bolster these attacks.
Omar has pushed back, saying the president's comments are "completely disgusting" and "dehumanizing."