Rep. Ilhan Omar delivered a sharp and highly critical response after U.S. President Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about her and Somali immigrants during a recent media interview.
Trump, speaking Tuesday on Fox Business with Larry Kudlow, criticized Somalis living in Minnesota while taking aim at Omar, a Democrat who represents the state’s 5th Congressional District and was born in Somalia.
“Somalia has come in here, what they’ve done to our country, these people, they’ve come into our country, and what they’ve done with that fake congresswoman, she’s so bad,” Trump said during the interview, as he discussed alleged fraud investigations and referenced Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the United States.
His comments added to a long-running feud between the two political figures and came weeks after Omar was targeted during a tense town hall event in Minneapolis.
Omar’s Sharp Rebuttal
Omar responded forcefully in a post on X (formerly Twitter), directly attacking Trump and accusing him of attempting to shift attention from ongoing controversies.
“The leader of the pedophiles protection party is trying to deflect attention from his name being all over the Epstein files. At least in Somalia they execute pedophiles not elect them,” Omar wrote.
Her statement quickly drew widespread reactions online, with supporters praising her blunt tone while critics condemned the language as inflammatory.
Long-Running Political Tensions
The exchange is the latest episode in years of political hostility between Trump and Omar. Trump has repeatedly criticized Omar and other progressive lawmakers, including calls at campaign rallies that drew controversy and accusations of fueling anti-immigrant sentiment.
Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, has often been a frequent target of conservative criticism due to her outspoken positions on immigration, foreign policy, and social justice issues.
Broader Context
Trump’s latest remarks also reignited debate about rhetoric surrounding immigrant communities, particularly Somali Americans, who form a significant and politically active population in Minnesota.
Political analysts say the heated exchange underscores deep partisan divisions as the United States heads toward another intense election cycle.
