The Congolese government is pushing back firmly against recent remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested during a political rally that “many” people from the Democratic Republic of Congo are flooding into the United States.
The comments, made over the weekend in Michigan, sparked swift criticism in Kinshasa, where officials have condemned the president’s statement as misleading and disrespectful. President Trump, speaking to a crowd of supporters, used Congo as an example during a broader discussion on immigration. Without citing any data, he claimed that large numbers of Congolese nationals are arriving in the U.S.—a statement the Congolese government says is simply not true.
In a strongly worded response, the DRC’s Ministry of Communication and Media expressed “astonishment” at the president’s comments. “The Democratic Republic of Congo expresses its deep concern over the statement made by President Donald Trump,” the ministry said in a statement issued Monday. “Such remarks are not only unfounded but also harmful, as they promote a distorted image of our people.”
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya emphasized that while Congolese citizens do migrate, they do so under legal and legitimate circumstances, often to pursue education, reunite with family, or seek economic opportunities. “We are not a country exporting chaos or uncontrolled migration,” Muyaya stated. “President Trump’s remarks do not reflect the reality of Congolese migration patterns, and we call for more accuracy and mutual respect in diplomatic discourse.”
The backlash in Kinshasa is just the latest ripple in a long and often tense history between Trump and African nations. His rhetoric around immigration has frequently drawn criticism for being inflammatory or lacking nuance, and this latest comment has reignited conversations around how African nations are portrayed on the world stage.
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On social media, many Congolese citizens and members of the diaspora voiced their frustration. Some accused President Trump of using African countries as political props to stir fear or score easy applause from his base. “This is how stereotypes are kept alive,” one Congolese-American activist posted on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s dangerous, lazy politics.”
Migration experts also weighed in, noting that Congolese immigration to the U.S. is not as widespread as the president suggested. “The numbers simply don’t support his claim,” said Dr. Michelle Kavira, a Central African migration analyst. “If anything, the majority of Congolese migrants head to neighboring African countries. The U.S. receives only a small percentage.”
As of today, there has been no clarification or retraction from the White House. However, observers say such remarks—especially coming from the sitting president—have the potential to affect U.S.-Africa relations, particularly at a time when both continents are seeking closer cooperation on trade, climate, and security.
Kinshasa made its position clear: the Congolese people deserve to be spoken about with dignity, not as talking points in another country’s political theater.
“We expect respectful and fact-based engagement from our partners,” Muyaya concluded. “The Congolese are not invisible, and we will not accept narratives that reduce us to headlines or political tools.”
