Minnesota “squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) is facing fierce backlash and accusations of threatening to “make the U.S. bow to Somali interests,” with Republicans and others calling for her ousting after a clip appears to show her telling Somali Americans that her first priority in office is not America, but Somalia.
In remarks she made to a crowd that included Somali leaders in a Minneapolis hotel, the Somali-born Democrat congresswoman appeared to prioritize Somali interests — including expanding Somalia’s territory — over American ones.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA – Ilhan Omar violates her Oath of Office, vows to ‘Protect Somalia’ in Congress.
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) January 29, 2024
OMAR: "The US will do what we want, nothing else. They must follow our orders. That is how we safeguard the interest of Somalia"pic.twitter.com/gePPZgo0Bd
According to a translation of her comments featured in a viral clip posted to X with more than 4.3 million views as of Tuesday morning, the pro-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Omar describes herself as “Somalian first” and “Muslim second,” saying 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,” she continues. “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 adds.
Describing America as a country where “one of your daughters is in Congress to represent your interests,” Omar tells the crowd to “sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system.”
Widecsale outrage ensued after her comments went viral.
“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,” wrote House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN).
“She should resign in disgrace,” he added.
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
“Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar, in her own words: Somalian first. Muslim second. She never mentions America,” wrote Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). “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 noted.
She then called Americans to “[g]et out and vote in 2024.”
“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 exclaimed.
Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar in her own words: Somalian first. Muslim second. She never mentions America.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) January 29, 2024
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
“Listen to it all. It’s not hyperbole when we say our representatives are putting America last,” wrote former President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
Listen to it all. It’s not hyperbole when we say our representatives are putting America last. https://t.co/I8WKmCd2bi
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 29, 2024
“Shameful how Republicans have allowed for this jihadist subversion of America to continue,” wrote right-wing activist Laura Loomer.
Remember in 2018 when some “Republicans” told me I was over reacting about Ilhan Omar @IlhanMN being a foreign subversive jihadist in Congress and when I said she was working on behalf of Islamists and against the interests of the US?
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) January 29, 2024
I was literally banned everywhere for… https://t.co/wNKeUSjfOj
“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,” wrote Dr. Sebastian Gorka, former adviser to former President Donald Trump.
“Should she be deported?” he asked.
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.
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) January 29, 2024
Should she be deported? pic.twitter.com/4kwKrP8KSr
“DOJ, IRS, etc. should be investigating Ilhan Omar,” wrote Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
“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,” wrote conservative influencer Rogan O’Handley.
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
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) January 29, 2024
“She’s a traitor to America,” wrote the popular Libs of TikTok X account.
.@SpeakerJohnson when will Republicans hold a vote to expell Ilhan Omar from Congress? She’s a traitor to America. Santos was expelled for less. https://t.co/vQF7OAn88y
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 29, 2024
“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,” wrote conservative commentator Liz Wheeler.
“EXPEL HER, you cowards,” she urged.
George Santos was expelled from Congress—by his own party!—because he lied on his resume.
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) January 29, 2024
Ilhan Omar says she’s Somali first, Muslim second, never says she’s American, & threatens to make the U.S. bow to Somali interests. EXPEL HER, you cowards.
“Ilhan Omar didn’t just break her oath of office. She broke her oath of American citizenship,” wrote the popular EndWokeness account. “She should be expelled and deported.”
Ilhan Omar didn't just break her oath of office. She broke her oath of American citizenship.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 30, 2024
She should be expelled and deported. pic.twitter.com/t2SBtuenH0
“Our government has been TOTALLY INFILTRATED,” wrote independent journalist Nick Sortor.
“Ilhan Omar needs her citizenship revoked retroactively. She clearly hates being an American,” wrote podcaster Joey Mannarino.
Ilhan Omar needs her citizenship revoked retroactively.
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) January 30, 2024
She clearly hates being an American.
“Ilhan Omar should have been investigated and expelled from Congress for immigration fraud a LONG time ago, potentially even deported,” wrote conservative pundit Brigitte Gabriel.
“We have immigration laws for a reason!” she added.
Ilhan Omar should have been investigated and expelled from Congress for immigration fraud a LONG time ago, potentially even deported.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) January 29, 2024
We have immigration laws for a reason!
“Ilhan Omar puts Somalia first, Islam second, and America last,” she wrote in another post.
“She’s openly admitting allegiance to a foreign nation and to using her position in government to put that foreign nation first. This is treason,” insisted director and producer Robby Starbuck.
“Ilhan Omar is an agent for Somalia. It’s all out in the open. She should be removed from Congress, at the very least. Absolutely insane,” he added.
She’s openly admitting allegiance to a foreign nation and to using her position in government to put that foreign nation first. This is treason. Ilhan Omar is an agent for Somalia. It’s all out in the open. She should be removed from Congress at the very least. Absolutely insane. https://t.co/Agfe5wu780
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 29, 2024
“I would say Ilhan Omar has dual loyalty, but what’s the loyalty she has besides Somalia?” asked Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
I would say Ilhan Omar has dual loyalty, but what’s the loyalty she has besides Somalia? https://t.co/lhlE2QC4l3
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 29, 2024
“Ilhan Omar vows her allegiance to another country while she serves in our representative government. Is this not treason?” wrote the Florida-based grassroots parental rights organization Moms for Liberty. “Moms were called domestic terrorists for asking questions of their school boards, and this goes ignored?”
Global citizenship in action.
— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) January 29, 2024
Ilhan Omar vows her allegiance to another country while she serves in our representative government.
Is this not treason?
Moms were called domestic terrorists for asking questions of their school boards and this goes ignored? https://t.co/FCV1PgESUu
“Ilhan Omar was born in Somalia, cared for in Western-funded refugee camps in Kenya, she was brought over to Minnesota by Catholic charities and never had to work a day in her life,” wrote political commentator Mike Cernovich.
“And yet she still hates America and Israel,” he added.
Ilhan Omar was born in Somalia, cared for in Western funded refugee camps in Kenya, she was brought over to Minnesota by Catholic charities and never had to work a day in her life.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) January 29, 2024
And yet she still hates America and Israel. https://t.co/PSUbO9mYKk
“Rep Ilhan Omar should be expelled from Congress…,” wrote conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman.
Rep Ilhan Omar should be expelled from Congress…
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) January 29, 2024
Agree? pic.twitter.com/saxSg26uXV
In addition, Somaliland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Rhoda J Elmi slammed Omar for her use of “ethno-racist rhetoric” and “her endeavors to revive the once-violent and dangerous ideology of Greater Somalia or Somali Weyn, which caused so much death, destruction and conflict in the Horn of Africa.”
She also called on the House leadership and her caucus to “take note of her public conduct, unbecoming a United States congresswoman nor representative of the August House she serves in.”
We were profoundly surprised, even shocked on discovering the remarks made by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D) of Minnesota in a recent public forum, widely circulated on most social media platforms and attached below for your reference.
— Ambassador Rhoda J Elmi (@AmbRhodaJElmi) January 28, 2024
The language she employed was regrettably… pic.twitter.com/7Ag9ZafTKY
In response to the backlash, Omar claimed her words were misinterpreted while accusing her critics of “harassment and lies.”
It’s not only slanted but completely off, but I wouldn’t expect more from these propagandists. I pray for them and for their sanity. No nation state can survive if its states start to get involved in land lease negotiations with other countries without the consent of the federal… https://t.co/bmdEAN6aUH
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 28, 2024
Omar has a history of controversy, having been accused repeatedly of being antisemitic and anti-American, including in past statements accusing Israel of being an “apartheid regime” that has “hypnotized the world” and claiming pro-Israel stances of politicians are “all about the Benjamins.”
“Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.” ~ @Ilhan Omar@IlhanMN needs to stop her Jew hating tweets and comments. Period. #StopDemocratsAntiSemitism#PowaySynagogueShooting pic.twitter.com/5lB1Xopjo2
— American Small Business (@SaveUSASmallBiz) April 28, 2019
She has also referred to the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, as a day in which “some people did something.”
In February 2023, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reiterated why Omar is “unfit” to represent the U.S. on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Ilhan Omar's past statements make it clear she is unfit to represent the U.S. on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 2, 2023
- 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
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) also blasted the congresswoman after she equated the United States and Israel to Hamas terrorists and the Taliban.
“Omar is an antisemite who hates America and hates American troops,” he said. “She has no place serving in Congress.”
In 2019, then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) defended Omar, telling reporters that while Omar had made several anti-Jewish remarks, she had not been “intentionally antisemitic.”
In 2023, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) accused Omar of hating America “as much as Israel.”
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at