St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed has responded with sarcasm to criticism over her decision to travel to Somalia during the Fourth of July weekend, dismissing the backlash as "bullying."
Mohamed, the first Somali American elected mayor of a U.S. city, posted a video on social media offering a "sarcastic apology" for taking vacation time to visit family she had not seen in 10 years. The trip occurred during the United States' 250th anniversary weekend.
"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 in the video. "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 – I am so sorry. How inconsiderate of me!"
The controversy gained traction after local news outlet Alpha News reported on Mohamed's visit, citing a Somali news outlet that stated she was accompanied by Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Video shared from the Somali president's X account appeared to show the mayor arriving with a large group waving both American and Somali flags.
Mohamed also noted that she met with the president of Switzerland during her time abroad, a detail she suggested was overlooked by critics. "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 sarcastically.
The city of St. Louis Park confirmed that Mohamed's trip is personal and privately funded, and not related to city business. The city stated that Council Member Yolanda Farris is currently fulfilling the mayor's duties as designated mayor pro tem. A return date for Mayor Mohamed has not been provided.
Concluding her video, Mohamed characterized the complaints as "bullying" and suggested that criticism is amplified when Somali people are mentioned. "The minute they mention Somali people, their clicks and views go up," she asserted, attempting to suppress laughter. "It's all about 'clicks' off the backs of 'hating' Somali people."