Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) sparked a great deal of backlash after a video showed her telling Somali Americans that her first priority as a representative is Somali interests, not American.
In the video, which went viral after it was posted on X, Omar, the first Somali American in Congress, seemed to tell her Somali American constituents that she would do all she can to prevent the Republic of Somaliland from getting into a sea-access deal with Ethiopia.
Describing herself as “Somalian first” and “Muslim second,” per a translation of her speech, she said that “the U.S. government will only do what Somalians in the U.S. tell them to do.”
“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 added.
She told the crowd to believe that “one of your daughters is in Congress to represent your interests” and to “sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system.”
“As Somalis, one day we will go after our missing territories,” she also said, per The New York Post.
Ilhan Omar tells a crowd of Somalians that her top priority is to put Somalia first and expand its territory
"The US government will do what we want, nothing else. They must follow our orders. That is how we safeguard the interest of Somalia."
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 28, 2024
While the “Squad” member tried to explain away her remarks by saying they were lost in translation and “slanted” by “propagandists,” she could not help the outrage that followed her comments.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) called for her to “resign in disgrace,” writing, “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.”
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. She should resign in disgrace.https://t.co/O3lAEGlokt
— Tom Emmer (@GOPMajorityWhip) January 29, 2024
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) weighed in, writing, “Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar, in her own words: Somalian first. Muslim second. She never mentions America. 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 added, going further to urge Americans to “get out and vote in 2024.”
Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar in her own words: Somalian first. Muslim second. She never mentions America.
She flaunts using her position as congresswoman to protect Somalia’s border while our border is invaded by MILLIONS of illegals who are a danger to America.
These… https://t.co/94D5E6B79I
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) January 29, 2024
Some users even went as far as suggest that she be deported. Dr. Sebastian Gorka, former adviser to former President Donald 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. Should she be deported?”
Ilhan Omar is a Congresswoman in the U.S. House of Representatives…here she is telling Somalis in America that she doing the work of Somalia.
Should she be deported? pic.twitter.com/4kwKrP8KSr
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) January 29, 2024
The EndWokeness account tweeted, “Ilhan Omar didn’t just break her oath of office. She broke her oath of American citizenship. She should be expelled and deported.”
Ilhan Omar didn't just break her oath of office. She broke her oath of American citizenship.
She should be expelled and deported. pic.twitter.com/t2SBtuenH0
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 30, 2024