A video that has exploded across social media shows a white Trump supporter at a recent Minnesota rally insisting he is “not racist at all” — immediately after declaring on camera that “white people come first, then minorities.” The clip, recorded January 24, 2026, outside a community center hosting Rep. Ilhan Omar’s town hall, has drawn millions of views and reignited fierce national debate over racism, political rhetoric, and the boundaries of free speech in polarized America.
The 48-second cellphone video, first posted to X by a local activist account and quickly amplified by progressive pages, captures the man—identified only as “Mike from St. Cloud” in follow-up interviews—speaking directly to the camera while wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cap and holding a Trump 2024 flag.
In the footage he states clearly:
“I’m not racist. I love everybody. But let’s be real: white people built this country, white people come first, then minorities can come after. That’s just common sense. America First means Americans first—and yeah, that starts with us.”
Seconds later, when a bystander off-camera asks, “So you’re saying white people are more important?” he doubles down:
“I didn’t say more important, I said come first. There’s a difference. I’m not racist, I just want my people to be taken care of first.”
The man later spoke to a local reporter from KARE 11, repeating that he is “absolutely not racist” and that his comments were about “protecting American culture and jobs,” not hatred toward any group. He accused the viral clip of being “taken out of context” and edited to make him look bad.
Here are key stills from the widely shared video that sparked the controversy:
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the Twin Cities following two recent ICE-involved shootings and Rep. Omar’s town hall disruption earlier in the week. Protesters and counter-protesters had gathered outside the event, leading to several heated exchanges caught on camera.
Public reaction has been swift and deeply divided:
- Progressive commentators and civil rights groups labeled the remarks textbook white supremacist rhetoric dressed in “America First” clothing.
- Conservative voices on X and talk radio defended the man, arguing he was expressing legitimate cultural pride and frustration with perceived reverse discrimination.
- Fact-checkers and linguists noted that the phrasing “white people come first, then minorities” closely mirrors historical “separate but equal” logic and modern far-right talking points.
The clip has already been viewed more than 8 million times across platforms, with thousands of comments ranging from condemnation to full-throated agreement. Several Minnesota lawmakers, including Sen. Tina Smith, called the language “dangerous and divisive,” while others urged focusing on policy rather than individual outbursts.
For everyday Americans—particularly in battleground states like Minnesota—the moment crystallizes ongoing arguments about race, identity, and what “America First” really means in 2026. It also highlights how quickly isolated comments can become national flashpoints in the social media era.
The man has not been charged with any crime, and local police said they are monitoring the situation for potential threats but have not opened a formal investigation.
In summary, a white Trump supporter’s viral declaration that “white people come first, then minorities” followed by his insistence that he is “not racist” has sparked widespread outrage and defense, shining a harsh light on racial tensions and political rhetoric in today’s America.