President Donald Trump targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar during a wide-ranging speech in Michigan this week, mixing personal attacks with policy pledges that included a promise to pursue revocation of citizenship for some naturalized Americans convicted of fraud.
Trump delivered the remarks at the Detroit Economic Club after touring a Ford truck plant in nearby Dearborn, using the stop to argue his economic agenda is working and to defend tariffs as a tool he says is reshaping trade and manufacturing. (CBS News)
Personal attacks tied to broader claims about fraud
During the Detroit appearance, Trump again focused on the Somali American community—particularly in Minnesota—while taking aim at Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia.
In clips of the event shared online, Trump mocked Omar and called her a “total scam artist,” including a line in which he says, “I have a constitutional right to rip off the country,” as part of an impression. The White House has not released an official transcript containing those lines, and the quotes circulated widely through video excerpts posted on social platforms. (YouTube)
Trump says he will “revoke” citizenship for some naturalized Americans convicted of fraud
Beyond the rhetoric, Trump also made a policy claim that drew immediate attention: he said his administration intends to revoke the citizenship of any naturalized immigrant from Somalia “or anywhere else” who is convicted of defrauding Americans. He made the statement during the Detroit Economic Club speech, according to Reuters. (Reuters)
Legal experts note that U.S. citizenship can be stripped only through a formal process known as denaturalization, typically pursued in federal court under specific circumstances. Even critics of Trump’s pledge say fraud in immigration paperwork can be prosecuted, but the broader idea of quickly “revoking” citizenship raises questions about what, exactly, the administration could do under existing law.
TPS for Somalis ends, adding pressure on a small group of beneficiaries
Trump’s Detroit comments came as his administration separately announced it is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis in the U.S., affecting about 705 people, according to the Associated Press. The Department of Homeland Security said the protections will expire on March 17, 2026, arguing conditions in Somalia have improved. (AP News)
TPS does not provide a path to citizenship, but it allows recipients to live and work legally in the U.S. while protections remain in place. Critics—among them the Council on American-Islamic Relations—warned the decision could force vulnerable people back to a country still facing instability and violence. (AP News)
The Detroit speech also leaned heavily on tariffs and the economy
Trump’s Michigan appearance was also designed to spotlight economic messaging. CBS News reported that Trump defended tariffs during the Detroit Economic Club speech, repeating his view that they are reducing the trade deficit and supporting the auto industry. (CBS News)
He also said he plans to roll out a new affordability plan when he attends Davos, though he has previously dismissed affordability concerns as overblown. (CBS News)
What comes next
The administration has not published detailed guidance on how it would implement Trump’s citizenship pledge beyond existing denaturalization pathways. Meanwhile, the decision to end TPS for Somalis is likely to face intense scrutiny from immigrant advocates and may draw legal challenges, as past efforts to end TPS designations for other groups have frequently ended up in court. (AP News)
