Minneapolis mayor draws fire for Somali victory speech after third-term win

Newly re-elected Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is facing backlash from conservatives for giving victory speech in Somali and says Minneapolis welcomes Somalis.

In a video of the speech posted online, Frey can be seen chanting in Somali as the crowd responds and applauds.

Popular conservative influencer Paul Szypula criticized the progressive mayor, writing: “The pandering here is crazy.”

“Mayor Jacob Frey, having won re-election, spoke in Somalia for almost a minute and then said: Minneapolis belongs to Somalia,” Shipula said.

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In the second round of nonpartisan ranked-choice voting, Frey narrowly defeated the socialist senator from Minneapolis. Omar Fateh. Fateh is the first Somali-American and first Muslim to serve in the state Senate.

Fateh had the support of the Twin Cities chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and a member of the “Squad” member of the House of Representatives. Ilhan OmarDemocrat from Minnesota who represents Minneapolis in the US House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the governor. Tim Waltzthe Minnesota Democrat, who was former Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate last year and is up for re-election next year, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., have endorsed Frey's campaign this year.

Speaking to the Somali crowd after his victory, Frey repeatedly thanked the crowd in Somali.

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“To the great people of Minneapolis, and I say this very intentionally because no matter where you come from, Minneapolis should be a place you are proud to call home,” he said.

He then listed a number of Somali regions, saying: “Whether you come from Bosaso or Mogadishu, Hargeisa or Garowe, Beledweyne or the southwest, Minneapolis is a place where you come to seek prosperity, where you come to raise your family.”

“That's what this election means, this election means that this is a moment of unity where the entire Somali community can come together and say, 'This is our people, this is our city, we are united for each other,'” he said.

Conservative pundit Jerry Callahan criticized Frey's speech, saying: “This is an American politician, raised in America, educated in America, supposedly representing Americans, prostrating himself before a group of foreigners. This might be the most humiliating thing I've ever seen.”

Podcaster Matt Walsh also chimed in, writing: “As I have said many times, politicians in this country should be required by law to speak English when addressing the public in an official capacity. There should never be a time when Americans cannot understand what their elected leaders are saying.”

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Nick Sortor wrote: “I don't know how big the ICE presence is in Minneapolis, but it should be much, MUCH larger.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Frey's team for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

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This is not the first time Frey has come under fire for political messages in Somali. In September, he was also widely criticized for releasing election advertisements in Somali.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, commented on the ad, saying, “This needs to stop.”

Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., also responded to the ad by posting a disapproving GIF.

Kari Lake simply wrote, “WTAF?” which is an acronym for “what the fuck.”

Since taking office in 2018, Frey was elected to his third term as mayor of Minneapolis on Tuesday. He is best known for marching with protesters during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots, which were particularly destructive in Minneapolis, a city where George Floyd died. Frey was also seen kneeling and crying near Floyd's casket at the memorial service.