WASHINGTON (SD) — U.S. President Donald Trump has described Somaliland as “a totally different country” from Somalia and suggested it should change its name, remarks that have drawn attention to Somaliland’s longstanding campaign for international recognition.

Trump made the comments during a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12, while discussing immigration and Somalia. Referring to Somaliland, he said: “I call it Somalia land, not Somaliland, because actually it’s a totally different country.” He added that Somaliland should “change the name immediately.”

Although Trump’s comments explicitly distinguished Somaliland from Somalia, he did not announce a U.S. decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state. His remarks therefore represent a public statement about Somaliland’s distinct identity, rather than a formal change in American diplomatic policy.

The Somaliland government welcomed Trump’s comments. In a statement issued on October 13, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said his remarks acknowledged Somaliland’s separate political status, citing its borders, constitution, elected government and more than three decades of self-government. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, restoring the sovereignty it says it gained on June 26, 1960.

The comments followed an interview published on October 11 by Breitbart News in which Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro, urged Trump to recognize Somaliland formally. Irro highlighted opportunities for cooperation in counterterrorism, anti-piracy operations, maritime security and international trade, pointing in particular to the strategic location and commercial potential of Berbera port.

Somaliland’s recognition campaign received a significant diplomatic boost when Israel formally recognized it in December 2025, according to reporting on the decision. However, Somalia continues to regard Somaliland as part of its territory, making the question of independence a contentious issue in regional diplomacy.

Trump’s remarks have placed Somaliland’s name and political identity in the public debate in the United States. However, no formal U.S. recognition decision was announced, and the comments did not establish whether Washington intends to change its existing policy.

Trump’s description of Somaliland as a “totally different country” would provide Somaliland’s diplomatic representatives with an opportunity to reinforce their argument that the territory should be assessed separately from Somalia. His comments followed Irro’s recent outreach in Washington and New York, where the Somaliland president promoted security and economic cooperation with the United States.

The suggestion to change the name introduces a separate question. Somaliland’s name reflects its historical and political identity, while critics may argue that its similarity to Somalia contributes to international confusion. Any serious proposal to change it would raise questions of public consent, historical identity and constitutional procedure. Trump’s remark alone does not indicate that Somaliland’s government intends to pursue such a change.

The key distinction is between acknowledging Somaliland as separate in political terms and formally recognizing it as a sovereign state. Recognition would require a clear policy decision from Washington. Until such a decision is announced, Trump’s comments may offer diplomatic encouragement to Hargeisa, but they do not amount to U.S. recognition.