Trump and Huckabee cite the cold Minnesota winters as a reason Syrian refugees shouldn't come to the U.S.
Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump have added a rather odd reason to their long list of arguments against Syrian refugees coming the U.S.: The desert-dwelling refugees aren't cut out for Minnesota's harsh winters.
"A friend of mine lives in Minnesota and he calls me up and he says, 'Can you imagine, it's 130 degrees in Syria and now they want to send some of them up to Minnesota where it's 30 degrees,'" Trump said at campaign event Monday. "These people are going to be very very unhappy. It's cold, and beautiful, but it's cold."
Huckabee cited similar concerns about how the Syrian refugees would fare in brutal winter temperatures. "Why would we remove people from a desert climate?" the former governor of Arkansas and Republican presidential candidate told Breitbart News radio Monday. "There's no reason under God's earth to send people who have lived in a desert their whole life, who may speak Arabic or some other language, and put them in Minnesota for the winter. Can anybody tell me that makes any sense, it simply does not."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Contrary to both Huckabee and Trump's concerns, Minnesota is, historically, actually a very welcoming spot for refugees. Vox reports that last year Minnesota took in 2,232 refugees from other countries — a number that's double the U.S. average of refugees per capita. And — big shocker here — an ideal climate doesn't exactly top refugees' list of concerns when searching for a new place to live:
Certainly the refugees fleeing war-torn countries will appreciate Trump and Huckabee's concerns about their comfort, though.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published