“I met Minnesotans, even Eden Prairie residents, at every stop I made,” Paulsen said.

Also at each stop: Counter-terrorism discussions. “Anarchy in [the region] can give way to actions like piracy,” Paulsen told the Star Tribune.

Accompanying Paulsen on the late-April tour were four Democrats, including trip leader Rep. Adam Smith of Washington.

Besides Yemen, the group’s itinerary included Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco.

Upon his return from Africa, Paulsen spoke on the House floor (video) in favor of removing trade barriers so U.S. consumer products could reach the shores of a foreign land — Columbia. He didn’t mention Doritos.