Trump Stokes Islamophobia by Calling Democratic Candidates ‘Jihadists’
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-08-10 18:14:00 — www.nytimes.com
Trump Escalates Anti-Muslim Rhetoric, Targets Somali Americans and Muslim Candidates
President Trump on Monday intensified his pattern of inflammatory remarks about Muslims and people of Somali descent, labeling Democratic midterm candidates as “jihadists” and delivering a tirade against Somali Americans. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump claimed, “we have jihadists being elected all over the place. We have this — whether it’s communism, jihadism.” He also disparaged Somali immigrants, saying, “They’re not smart, they have no aptitude, they have nothing going, and they’re telling us how to run our country.”
Pattern of Vilification
These statements are part of a broader trend throughout Trump’s political career, in which he has vilified Muslims and people of Arab descent. He has repeatedly stoked anger among his supporters and advocated for harsh immigration restrictions, including a ban on Muslims entering the United States. In recent months, anti-Muslim rhetoric has become more normalized within the Republican Party, especially following the election victories of prominent Muslim politicians such as Zohran Mamdani in New York and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.
Trump has declined to condemn this rhetoric and, as demonstrated on Monday, has leaned into it. Two days before his latest comments, he posted on social media an image contrasting himself and the first lady with Dr. El-Sayed and his wife, captioned “Two VERY DIFFERENT America’s.” The post included Dr. El-Sayed’s full name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, and came as Republican campaign ads attempted to link El-Sayed to terrorism.
Continued Attacks on Somali Community
Trump’s comments on Monday were not isolated. Last December, he called Somali immigrants “garbage” and said he did not want them in the United States. More recently, he shared a video of Somali kindergartners in Minnesota, commenting, “Every girl is in a hijab… in kindergarten.” On Monday, he reiterated his disdain: “They come from, let’s say, as an example, Somalia. They come in and then they tell us how to, how our Constitution, how our Declaration of Independence, how it works. It doesn’t work that way.” When asked by The New York Times earlier this year if he was concerned about painting the Somali community with a broad brush, Trump responded, “I don’t care.”
Impact and Response
White House officials did not respond to requests for comment on how Trump’s statements could alienate Muslims in the United States. While some Republican officials have condemned the anti-Muslim language, most have remained silent. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was one of the few to speak out, emphasizing that “everyone should be treated as an individual.”
Conclusion
Trump’s repeated false and disparaging statements about Muslims and Somali Americans are part of a consistent pattern of rhetoric that has fueled division and normalized bigotry within mainstream political discourse. His refusal to condemn, and frequent amplification of, anti-Muslim sentiment continues to draw criticism and raises concerns about the broader impact on American society and the safety of minority communities.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/politics/trump-democrats-somalis-jihadists-muslim.html