Utah lawmaker condemned for posting about 'foreign invaders who shouldn't be here' after son of Somali migrants announced congressional campaign
A Republican lawmaker has been condemned after calling for 'foreign invaders' to be deported in response to a congressional campaign by the son of Somali migrants.
Liban Mohamed, 27, announced his campaign for a newly created House district in a video earlier this month.
Mohamed, who is a US citizen, wrote alongside the post: 'My story is rooted in Utah.
'Born and raised here by Somali immigrant parents, I grew up in a community that cherished service and the belief that when people come together, anything is possible.'
His announcement was met with strong responses, including a post from Republican Trevor Lee.
'This is what happens when past policies to incentivize foreigners and not protect your culture run unchecked,' Lee wrote on X.
'We need to roll back all benefits and past policies that don’t put Utahns first. Housing, welfare of any kind, healthcare and most importantly prosecuting and deporting foreign invaders who shouldn’t be here in the first place.
Lee's comment was in response to one made by the Libertarian Party in New Hampshire's on Mohamed's video which read: 'In under 200 years the white ethnic mormons took an unihabited desert wasteland and turned it into one of the most beautiful cities in the American West.
Republican Trevor Lee has been condemned after calling for 'foreign invaders' to be deported
Liban Mohamed announced his campaign for a newly created House district in a video earlier this month
'Somalia has been populated continuously since the Paleolithic era and the only thing they've done is rob and scam whites.'
The post went viral on X, and the Utah Democratic Party condemned the racist attacks directed at Mohamed.
'The flood of racist and religious hate directed at Liban Mohamed is disgusting,' the party said.
'Let’s be clear where it’s coming from: the racism and white fragility on display from Republicans across this state is dangerous and embarrassing.'
The party accused Republicans of attacking Mohamed based on his ethnicity instead of engaging in debate based on character, values, or ideas.
They also slammed President Trump for 'normalizing and enabling this behavior,' calling MAGA Republicans who engaged in racial or religious attacks 'moral rot.'
In response to Lee's tweet, a constituent named Chad Iverson emailed multiple Republican representatives calling on them to advocate for his censure, local Utah outlet KSL reported.
'One of your fellow colleagues continues to act like a bigot and a racist. HERE IN UTAH. IN 2026. The only way to stop him is for my fellow Republicans to have the courage to speak out against him,' the email wrote.
Iverson called on Representatives Cal Roberts, Dan McCay, Kirk Cullimore, and John Johnson to advocate for Lee's censure.
He also included House Speaker Mike Schultz on the email chain, asking whether Schultz has had conversations with Lee about his online behavior.
Senator Derrin Owens responded to the email, saying he doesn't 'follow social media sites' and asked for concrete evidence that Lee exhibited racism.
Representative Nicholeen Peck and Senator John Johnson replied that Lee had a right to express his opinions online and that his constituents could vote him out if they disapproved.
Representative Troy Shelley defended Lee, writing in an email: 'Silencing the voice of a representative because a person does not agree with their viewpoint is common practice in third-world countries.'
Nate Blouin, a candidate running against Mohamed in the Democratic primary, reacted to the email chain published by KSL on X: 'In case you're wondering what @UtahGOP legislators are worried about right now, it's not air quality, it's not ICE cracking down on our community... it's defending Rep. Trevor Lee on a reply all email chain from a constituent who expressed anger over Lee's racism & homophobia.'
Lee defended his post in a statement to KSL, writing: 'The accusation that my posts represent "bigotry and racism" is completely unfounded and disappointing.'
'My comments have always focused on policy – specifically, the need to enforce our nation's immigration laws consistently, protect American culture and sovereignty, and ensure that progressive platforms (like those promoted by Mr. Mohamed) align with the values most Utahns hold dear.'
Lee, pictured above with Steve Bannon, defended his comments
One constituent called on Utah State House Speaker Mike Schultz to censure Lee
The Daily Mail has reached out to Lee for further comment and to Mohamed's campaign team.
Mohamed is running a primary campaign for Utah's first congressional district against five Democratic candidates.
He grew up in the state and graduated from the University of Utah. Mohamed has also lived in New York City and Washington, DC, and has worked for Meta and TikTok.
The newly established House seat was approved by a judge in November. It marked the first time in decades that the red state had a district safely favoring Democrats.
