President Donald Trump attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar (D–Minn.) at a rally in Pennsylvania, echoing the 2019 “send her back” chant and repeating inaccurate claims about her citizenship.
“Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is. … I love her. She comes in, does nothing but (expletive)…we ought to get her the hell out…she’s here illegally,” Trump said.
Omar is a naturalized U.S. citizen. She came to the United States as a refugee from Somalia in the 1990s, later became a permanent resident, and was naturalized in 2000—making her fully eligible to serve in Congress. Claims suggesting she is in the country illegally or is not a citizen are false.
Omar responded by calling Trump’s fixation on her “beyond weird,” accusing him of leaning on bigoted attacks instead of offering substantive policy.
“Trump’s obsession with me is beyond weird. He needs serious help. Since he has no economic policies to tout, he’s resorting to regurgitating bigoted lies instead. He continues to be a national embarrassment,” Omar wrote on X.
The exchange further intensifies debates around race and immigration and may energize voters on both sides, increasing pressure on party leaders and campaigns to address the rhetoric in the months ahead.
