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Democrats in Minnesota rushed to defend the Somali community, with Jacob Frey insisting publicly that Minneapolis remains proud of its immigrant residents. “Somali Americans are Americans. Their nation is America. And we are proud to have these Americans in Minneapolis,” he posted on X.
It didn’t take long for Frey to turn those words into a photo-op. On Friday, he arrived at a Somali restaurant to meet with community figures. When handed Cambuulo — a dish made from cooked adzuki beans mixed with wheat berries or corn — he tried to show enthusiasm. “Mix it, mix it,” someone instructed. Frey obliged, stirred the bowl, took a bite, and smiled tightly while declaring, “it’s delicious.”
Unfortunately for him, another angle of the moment told a very different story.
Within hours, social media erupted with clips of the mayor grimacing, swallowing hard, and shifting uncomfortably as he tried to keep the food down. One commentator summarized the moment this way: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey holding on for dear life as he dines in a Somali restaurant to stick it to Trump. This is one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen.”
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson piled on as well, remarking, “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on the verge of throwing up as he forces down a Somali dish in protest of President Trump.”
But it was Federalist editor Sean Davis who delivered the internet’s favorite breakdown, writing, “Every time I rewatch this, I find something new to love. The pained look on his face. The constant chewing but not swallowing because he isn’t sure he can keep it down if he does. The frenetic pointless rearranging of the slop in the bowl to give the appearance of engaging with the meal while doing everything possible to not eat it.”
Behind the comedy, however, is the real issue fueling the political fight: Minnesota’s massive welfare fraud crisis.
Trump’s frustration stems from a staggering list of state and federal investigations revealing widespread siphoning of taxpayer dollars. The most infamous case, the Feeding Our Future scandal, resulted in 56 criminal convictions and involved what prosecutors say was a $300 million scheme looting pandemic food-aid programs. And that wasn’t the end of it.
Federal prosecutors have since uncovered additional multimillion-dollar scams tied to Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services and autism therapy programs — all involving networks within the state’s Somali population. Authorities estimate that billions have been stolen. To make matters worse, investigators revealed that some of the stolen money was routed overseas to terrorist groups including al-Shabaab, the Al Qaeda-linked faction operating out of Somalia.
That was the context behind Trump’s blistering comments — and behind Frey’s attempt at damage control.
Instead of presenting himself as a confident defender of Minneapolis’ immigrant community, the mayor ended up starring in a viral moment that made him look more panicked than principled.
And as the fraud investigations expand, one awkward spoonful of Cambuulo won’t distract the public from the deeper crisis unfolding in Minnesota.
