Columbus, Ohio, a city with a significant Somali population, has become the center of online controversy following a now-deleted social media post from the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. The post, made on X (formerly Twitter), announced the raising of the Somali flag at City Hall to celebrate Somali Independence Day, referencing the unification of Somaliland and the Somali Republic in 1960.
The announcement quickly drew criticism from conservatives on social media, many of whom questioned the decision to celebrate a foreign independence day, particularly in proximity to the United States' upcoming 250th anniversary. White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, journalist Mark Hemingway, and attorney Mehek Cooke were among those who voiced their disapproval. Cooke stated, "City Hall is not a foreign embassy. As an Ohioan, I am repulsed by the anti-Americanism here. Our leaders treat foreign nationalism as sacred while treating American patriotism as controversial. America’s public buildings should honor America."
Brigitte Gabriel, founder of ACT for America, called the flag-raising "cultural surrender," while Daily Wire reporter Luke Rosiak commented, "Excuse me?"
Ohio Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart also weighed in, posting, "If Somalia is such a failed state that we need to take in tens of thousands of its citizens as ‘refugees,’ then we really don’t need to be celebrating its supposed ‘independence’ with patronizing posts on social media. One more way in which we encourage the refusal to assimilate."
Federalist reporter Brianna Lyman expressed a more extreme sentiment, posting, "They all need to go back. They love their third world country so much, send them back. Denaturalize and deport."
Following inquiries from Fox News Digital, the city department deleted the post. A city spokesperson later stated, "A social media post created by a city department falsely stated that City Hall would raise the Somalian flag in recognition of Somali Independence Day. While the City recognizes and respects the aspirations of people around the world to live in freedom, this post was inaccurate and has been deleted."
Columbus is home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States.