Hold onto your hats, folks—Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has stepped into the spotlight with a bold gesture of solidarity that’s raising eyebrows among conservatives.
Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) Native Americans and not a Muslim, recently appeared on a Somali-language YouTube channel in Minneapolis donning an Islamic garment to pledge her support for Somali migrants, as Breitbart reports.
Selected as the running mate by Democrat Governor Tim Walz in 2018, Flanagan has secured victory in two elections alongside him, cementing her position as a key figure in the state’s progressive leadership.
Her video message was a direct appeal to Somali migrants, a community that began large-scale migration to Minnesota in the 1990s, amid heightened scrutiny from President Donald Trump’s administration over allegations of massive fraud and welfare funding theft.
Standing beside her in the video was Ali Gaashaan, also known as Yusuf Ali, the founder of Volunteers for Somalia, a non-profit tied to the controversial Feeding Our Future criminal case.
That charity, prosecuted for a staggering $250 million in fraud, led to Gaashaan abruptly shuttering his own organization, which was reportedly focused on feeding needy Somali migrant children.
Flanagan’s choice of company in the video has sparked whispers of concern among those wary of progressive overreach, especially given the murky ties to fraud allegations.
Yet, her words were unequivocal in their support. “I am incredibly clear that the Somali community is part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota,” Flanagan declared, framing the community as integral to the state’s identity.
While her sentiment might tug at heartstrings, conservatives may question if such blanket endorsements overlook the serious policy challenges tied to fraud investigations that have rocked the state.
Flanagan herself is no stranger to controversy, having publicly admitted to a high school GPA of just 1.75 before earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in child psychology and American Indian studies, specializing in Ojibwe history.
She’s also been outspoken about pushing federal immigration officials out of Minnesota, a stance that aligns with her broader progressive agenda but rankles those who prioritize strict border enforcement.
Her academic turnaround shows grit, but critics might argue her policy positions risk prioritizing ideology over pragmatic governance in a state grappling with complex immigration issues.
In her address, Flanagan doubled down on her commitment, stating, “So I want to just encourage the community to know that we’re with you, we’ve got your back.”
“I am here shopping today and just encourage other folks to show up, support our Somali businesses, support our immigrant neighbors, and I know that things are scary right now. Just know that there are more people who are looking out for you, there are more people who are here to support you than you know,” she continued.
While her call to support local businesses is admirable, skeptics might see this as a well-meaning but naive sidestep of the deeper accountability needed when fraud allegations loom large—shouldn’t the focus be on ensuring integrity in community programs rather than symbolic gestures?
