Minnesota mayor Nadia Mohamed ditches US to spend America's 250th anniversary in Somalia with Somali president

St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed spent America’s 250th anniversary in Somalia rather, rather than in the United States. The first Somalian American mayor traveled to Somalia’s capital Mogadishu July 3 and was welcomed by Somali government officials, per Somalian news outlet Hiiraan online. Photos shared by the outlet show the mayor's arrival showing a group of Somalis waving American and Somali flags. Hiiraan Online also reported that “Mohamed thanked the president for the welcome and said she remains committed to strengthening cooperation and supporting development efforts in Somalia.”

Alpha News contacted Mohamed with questions about her trip including asking her if she purposely chose America’s 250th anniversary. The mayor did not respond to the questions before the deadline.

Alpha News then contacted the City of St Louis Park where a spokesperson confirmed the Somalia trip but said the mayor is footing the bill for the trip and has taken the trip for personal reasons.

“The trip is entirely unrelated to her role as mayor of the City of St. Louis Park,” the spokesperson said to Alpha News. “Any meetings with Somali dignitaries or other prominent individuals are taking place strictly through personal connections and do not involve any city business.”

Mohamed would go on to apologize sarcastically for the trip, saying in a video statement posted to X: "Allow me to offer my sincerest apology for daring, for having the audacity to take vacation time to go see family members I have not seen in 10 years. 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 was it of me," she commented sarcastically.

"You know, this is not even the first time that I met the president of a foreign nation. If you must know, I also met with the president of Switzerland, the then president of Switzerland. Nobody asked me about that one."

I would have loved to tell you about that. I would have loved to have an entire news article written about that. I will do better next time. I will.

"While I'm on this note, reading the comments on this post, honestly, it's the way that people do not fall for this shit. It's the way that people do not fall for this propaganda. It is the way that people do not follow for this bullying because that's what it is."

"They literally get their clicks and views off of hating Somali people. The minute they mention Somali people, their clicks and views go up," she concluded.

A Somali refugee who arrived in the United States at age 10, Mohamed became the first Somali mayor in Minnesota history and the first Muslim mayor of St. Louis Park. She currently works for a Minnesota state agency focused on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Mohamed’s visit also comes amid increased scrutiny of Somali communities in Minnesota following high-profile fraud investigations involving individuals accused of misusing public funds. The cases, including allegations tied to social service programs, have fueled political debate over, immigration and accountability.