Trump Calls Somali Immigrants ‘Garbage’

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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Caitlin McCabe (0:09)

Republicans pull out a victory in Tennessee's special election, though a tighter-than-usual margin keeps Democrats fired up. Plus, President Trump lashes out against Somali immigrants ahead of a reported ICE operation in Minneapolis.

Donald Trump (0:26)

I don't want them in our country, I'll be honest with you. Somebody will say, oh, that's not politically correct. I don't care. I don't want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason.

Caitlin McCabe (0:36)

It's no more Mr. Nice Guy for Waymo as the company pushes to make its self-driving cars more assertive on the road. It's Wednesday, December 3rd. I'm Caitlin McCabe for The Wall Street Journal, and here is the AM Edition of What's News. The top headlines and business stories moving your world today. We begin in Tennessee, where an especially tight and closely watched election has ended in Republicans' favor. Republican Matt Van Epps fended off a challenge from Democrat Afton Bain to fill a vacant House seat.

Matt Van Epps (1:10)

Tonight, we showed running from Trump is how you lose. Running with Trump is how you win.

Caitlin McCabe (1:18)

Van Epps speaking there last night after securing 54 percent of the vote compared with Bain's 45 percent. While comfortable, the GOP's margin of victory was smaller than in past wins for the heavily red Nashville area district, which Democrats took to suggest that momentum is shifting their way. In her speech last night, Bain said the results were the beginning of something powerful in Tennessee and across the South.

Sharon Turlip (1:44)

The Republicans made these districts to be uncompetitive. They wanted they wanted us to back down and we did not back down.

Marges Sakana (1:52)

We showed up.

Caitlin McCabe (1:53)

The special election had been viewed as a gauge of the political climate before the 2026 midterms, with recent wins at the ballot box suggesting Democrats have a strong chance to take back control of the House. Yesterday's turnout showed just how energized voters are, with levels reaching those of the 2022 midterms. Donald Trump has lashed out against Somali immigrants in Minneapolis, describing them in disparaging terms ahead of an expected ICE operation. It's the latest in Trump's reverse migration push, which has ramped up since the shooting of two National Guard members allegedly carried out by an Afghan refugee. Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump said the US is at a tipping point, and that the country would quote, go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage.

Donald Trump (2:46)

When they come from hell, and they complain, and do nothing but bitch, we don't want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it. Thank you very much, everybody.

Caitlin McCabe (3:03)

Responding to reports that ICE is expected to send 100 officers to Minneapolis, Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey was steadfast in his support for the city's Somali community.

Jacob Frey (3:14)

To our Somali community, we love you and we stand with you. That commitment is rock solid. Minneapolis is proud to be home to the largest Somali community in the entire country.

Caitlin McCabe (3:27)

According to estimates from the US. Census Bureau, about 40,000 Minnesota residents were born in Somalia, most holding forms of legal status. Pope Leo has waded into the Trump administration's simmering conflict with Venezuela, urging the White House to turn to dialogue and economic pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government rather than by threatening military action. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of human rights abuses and drug trafficking, while arguing that the threat posed by illegal drugs to the US justifies its military campaign to target drug runners in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez walked out of a West Virginia prison yesterday after he was pardoned by Trump. Hernandez was convicted last year of helping smuggle 400 tons of cocaine and was serving a 45-year prison sentence. The pardon fuels more political uncertainty in the Central American nation, which is in the middle of a presidential election.

Marathon talks between Russia and the US to end the war in Ukraine finished without an agreement yesterday. Territory has emerged as one of the main stumbling blocks, with Moscow demanding that Kiev cede all of the eastern Donbass region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected that. The conclusion of the talks come as NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels today, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be noticeably absent with a deputy attending in his place. A NATO spokeswoman said America's top diplomat hasn't missed the event since 1999 Rubio's absence has raised questions about Washington's commitment to the transatlantic alliance and comes as President Vladimir Putin yesterday said Russia was prepared to fight a war with Europe if attacked. Here's Estonian Foreign Minister Marges Sakana.