A sharp public spat broke out on January 12, 2026, between Elon Musk and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D–Minn.), after Musk amplified a social media thread that accused Democratic officials of using immigration and voting policies to reshape elections.
The exchange began when a user, Arthur MacWaters, posted a multi-step theory alleging a coordinated strategy for long-term political control. The post argued that policies such as expanding public benefits for non-citizens, maintaining open borders, creating pathways from asylum to citizenship, allowing mail-in voting, and reducing or eliminating photo-ID requirements were intended to encourage illegal immigration, secure electoral wins, and ultimately produce one-party dominance.
The user described the alleged effort as a “taxpayer-funded vote-laundering program,” claiming it was broader than previously understood and pointing to Minnesota as a focal point. The post also referenced Musk and the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” while presenting visuals and charts to suggest links between immigration trends, voter access rules, and election outcomes.
Musk replied in agreement and singled out Omar as an example. He wrote: “This has been happening for years. Ilhan Omar is the most obvious example. A large number of relatively recently arrived Somalis will elect only a Somali to Congress in that Minnesota district. This is much more subtle, but just as bad, in many other parts of America.”
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX who frequently comments on immigration and election integrity, pointed to Omar—who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District and is the first Somali-American member of Congress. Omar was born in Somalia, came to the United States as a refugee in 1995, and has served in the House since 2019. Minnesota’s 5th District includes Minneapolis and nearby communities and is known for its urban diversity.
Demographic summaries cited in the discussion describe a population of roughly 707,000 residents, with a majority White (non-Hispanic) share, a sizable Black or African American population (including a significant Somali-American community), and notable Hispanic and Asian populations. The district is also described as having a relatively high foreign-born share, with Somalia among the top countries of origin.
Omar fired back directly at Musk’s framing and pushed back on his description of her district. She responded: “You are one of the dumbest people on earth, my district is literally a majority white district. Your conspiracy theories are laughable and should have no place in a society that cares about facts.”
The back-and-forth quickly gained traction online, landing amid broader national arguments over immigration enforcement, voter access rules, and how demographic shifts shape U.S. elections—especially in large, diverse metro districts like Minnesota’s 5th, which has elected Democrats for decades.
