Mayor's Multilingual Celebration Draws Mixed Reactions
Jacob Frey, the Mayor of Minneapolis, has found himself at the centre of a political storm following his re-election victory speech. The 44-year-old Democrat secured a historic third term leading the Midwestern city of nearly 430,000 people on Tuesday. During his celebratory address, Frey chose to speak partially in Somali, a decision that has since provoked significant backlash from conservative media figures.
A City's Diverse Fabric
Frey's use of the language was a direct nod to a substantial portion of his constituency. Minneapolis is home to approximately 25,000 residents of Somali heritage, forming the largest Somali population in the United States. The mayor has actively cultivated a relationship with this community throughout his time in office. His electoral win was notably against Omar Fateh, a democratic socialist and Somali-American candidate.
In a powerful moment of unity, Frey led chants with the crowd, which included many Somali supporters. Switching back to English, he articulated his vision for the city, stating, 'No matter where you are from, Minneapolis should be a place where you are proud to call home.' He framed the election as 'a moment for unity, where the entire Somali community can come together.'
The Conservative Backlash
The response from certain quarters was swift and critical. Paul Szypula, a 48-year-old conservative podcaster from New York, labelled the move as 'insane pandering' in a segment picked up by Fox News. He specifically took issue with the nearly minute-long segment not delivered in English.
His sentiments were echoed by fellow commentator Matt Walsh, who argued that US politicians should be legally required to use English in official public addresses. 'There should never be a time when Americans can’t understand what their elected leaders are saying,' Walsh wrote.
Adding to the criticism, Boston radio host Gerry Callahan described the act as 'humiliating,' questioning why an American politician would 'prostrate himself in front of a bunch of foreigners.'
A Calculated Political Strategy
This was not the first time Frey has used Somali to connect with voters. In September, he released an entire campaign advertisement in the language. His consistent outreach appears to have been a successful strategy, contributing to his third-term victory—a feat achieved by only one other mayor in the city's history.
In June, Frey had publicly assured the Somali community that they were a 'vital part of the fabric' of Minneapolis and promised to stand with them against policies from the Donald Trump administration. This latest speech, while divisive in some circles, underscores his commitment to a key demographic that helped secure his position.
