MINNEAPOLIS, December 26, 2025*– Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, appeared in a video wearing a hijab while addressing the state’s Somali community, declaring them “part of the fabric of this state.” The clip, originally shared on Somali TV and reposted widely on social media—including by the pro-Trump America PAC founded by Elon Musk—has gone viral, sparking intense debate amid ongoing federal investigations into welfare fraud linked to some members of Minnesota’s Somali population.
In the video, filmed at a Somali market or mall in Minneapolis, Flanagan greets viewers with “Salam alaikum” and encourages support for Somali businesses and immigrant neighbors during what she described as a “scary time.” She emphasized solidarity, stating, “We’re with you; we’ve got your back,” in response to recent federal actions and comments from President Donald Trump targeting the community.
The appearance comes as the Trump administration has escalated scrutiny on Minnesota’s large Somali diaspora—the largest in the U.S.—following revelations of significant fraud in social service programs. Federal prosecutors have indicted or convicted dozens of individuals, many of Somali descent, in schemes estimated to have defrauded taxpayers of hundreds of millions to potentially billions of dollars. Trump has publicly accused the community of widespread welfare abuse and ties to gangs, recently terminating Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals and surging ICE agents to the state under “Operation Metro Surge.”
Critics, including conservative outlets and social media users, accused Flanagan of pandering for votes by donning the hijab—a traditional Muslim head covering—despite not being Muslim herself (Flanagan identifies as Catholic and is the highest-ranking Native American woman in elected office). Many viewed it as cultural appropriation or a political stunt, with comments labeling it a “humiliation ritual” or comparing it to past Democratic gestures like wearing kente cloth. The America PAC post amplified these sentiments, highlighting Flanagan’s words alongside the fraud context.
Supporters praised Flanagan for showing allyship and pushing back against what they call racist rhetoric from Trump, who has repeatedly attacked Somali-Americans, including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and mocked cultural symbols like the hijab. Local Democratic leaders and community advocates argue the fraud cases involve a small minority and do not represent the broader Somali population, many of whom are U.S. citizens contributing to Minnesota’s economy and culture.
The video’s spread on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) has fueled polarized reactions, with right-leaning accounts criticizing it as virtue-signaling amid unaddressed scandals, while left-leaning voices defend it as a stand against discrimination. As Flanagan campaigns for Senate against moderate Democrat Rep. Angie Craig, the incident underscores deepening national divides over immigration, fraud probes, and cultural identity in swing-state politics.
About The Author
