SouthernWorldwide.com – St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, who holds the distinction of being the first Somali American elected mayor of a U.S. city, has responded to criticism regarding her trip to Somalia during the country’s 250th anniversary celebration over the Fourth of July weekend.
The controversy emerged after Alpha News reported that Mohamed was in Somalia during the significant holiday weekend. The report cited a Somali news outlet that detailed her visit, which she reportedly made alongside Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
A video shared on the Somali president’s X account documented the visit. According to Alpha News, photos from the event appeared to show the mayor arriving with a large welcoming group, waving both American and Somali flags.
“Allow me to offer my sincerest apology for daring – for having the audacity – to take vacation time to see family members I have not seen in 10 years,” Mohamed stated sarcastically in a video posted to her social media. She was responding to criticism for not being in the United States during the holiday.
“Allow me to apologize for utilizing the federal holiday that we have, and the time off that we have to be able to go see my grandmothers – in which I have not seen in 10 years, in which six of those years I have worked diligently to serve the good people of St. Louis Park – I am so sorry. How inconsiderate of me! How treacherous – is it treacherous? Treacherous of me!” she continued, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“If you must know, I also met with the president of Switzerland, the then-president of Switzerland, but nobody asked me about that one,” Mohamed added. She implied that such a meeting would have garnered less attention.
“I would’ve loved to have told you about that. I would have loved to have had an entire news article written about that. I will do better next time. I will,” she said, further emphasizing the sarcastic nature of her “apology.”
However, when questioned about her return date, the city did not provide specific information. They stated that Council Member Yolanda Farris is currently fulfilling the mayor’s duties as designated mayor pro tem.
Mohamed concluded her video by characterizing the complaints about her trip as “bullying.”
“Reading the comments on this post,” she remarked, attempting to suppress laughter. “Honestly, it’s the way that people do not fall for this s—. It’s the way that people do not fall for this propaganda. It is the way that people do not fall for this bullying – because that’s what this is.”
The mayor argued that the criticism is driven by a desire for “clicks” and stems from “hating” Somali people.
“The minute they mention Somali people, their clicks and views go up,” Mohamed stated before the video concluded, suggesting a deliberate exploitation of anti-Somali sentiment for online engagement.
