Editor’s Note: A Somali-speaking reporter for Star-Tribune claims Omar said, “My answer was the U.S. government will do what we tell the U.S. government to do. We as Somalis should have that confidence in ourselves. We live in this country. We pay taxes in this country. It’s a country where one of your own sits in Congress.” The Dispatch claims outlets are spreading a mistranslation, but cites a Minnesota journalist concern with the deputy minister’s personal motivations related to political disagreement with Rep. Omar.
Rep. Ilhan Omar is facing criticism and calls for her removal after a video clip suggests she prioritizes Somali interests over American ones.
In the clip, she appears to pledge to safeguard Somalia’s interests and states that the U.S. government will follow Somali Americans’ orders.
The comments have sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for her resignation or expulsion from Congress.
Ilhan Omar's past statements make it clear she is unfit to represent the U.S. on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
– She repeatedly used anti-semitic tropes
– She described 9/11 by saying "some people did something"
– She compared America and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban pic.twitter.com/VnDIVtw5oV— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 2, 2023
“The U.S. government will only do what Somalians in the U.S. tell them to do,” Omar said.
“They will do what we want and nothing else. They must follow our orders, and that is how we will safeguard the interest of Somalia.”
“We Somalians must have that confidence in ourselves that we call the shots in the U.S.,” she said.
Critics have accused her of being unfit to serve and have highlighted her history of controversial statements, including accusations of antisemitism and anti-American sentiments.
“Ilhan Omar’s appalling, Somalia-first comments are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer wrote.
“She should resign in disgrace.
“Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar, in her own words: Somalian first. Muslim second. She never mentions America,” Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote. “She flaunts using her position as [a] congresswoman to protect Somalia’s border while our border is invaded by MILLIONS of illegals who are a danger to America.”
“These people hate America, and they’re so emboldened by the Democrats’ disdain for our country, they’re not even trying to hide it anymore,” she said.
“Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring every like-minded Patriot you know to the polls/ We THE PEOPLE have a country to save!” she said.
“Listen to it all. It’s not hyperbole when we say our representatives are putting America last,” Trump wrote.
“Ilhan Omar is a congresswoman in the U.S. House of Representatives…here she is telling Somalis in America that she [is] doing the work of Somalia,” Dr. Sebastian Gorka wrote.
“Should she be deported?” he asked.
“DOJ, IRS, etc. should be investigating Ilhan Omar,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton wrote.
“Ilhan Omar is a pretty clear example of why we must never allow foreign-born or foreign-raised aliens to become elected members of government,” influencer Rogan O’Handley wrote.
“George Santos was expelled from Congress—by his own party!—because he lied on his resume. Ilhan Omar says she’s Somali first, Muslim second, never says she’s American, & threatens to make the U.S. bow to Somali interests,” conservative Liz Wheeler wrote.
“EXPEL HER, you cowards,” she said.
“Ilhan Omar didn’t just break her oath of office. She broke her oath of American citizenship,” the EndWokeness account wrote. “She should be expelled and deported.”
“Our government has been TOTALLY INFILTRATED,” journalist Nick Sortor wrote.
“Ilhan Omar needs her citizenship revoked retroactively. She clearly hates being an American,” podcaster Joey Mannarino said.
However, Omar has defended herself, claiming her words were misinterpreted and accused her critics of harassment and lies.
