Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somali American and Muslim, sparked a backlash after a clip of her recent speech to Somali American constituents went viral on X, formerly Twitter.
First reported by Newsweek, Omar’s speech addressed the deal struck by Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland with landlocked Ethiopia to give it access to the sea.
According to the translation of her remarks first shared on X by Ambassador Rhoda J. Elmi, Somaliland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar purportedly said that she was “Somalian first, Muslim second” and “here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system.”
Omar defended her remarks from attacks, saying the translation on the viral clip was “not only slanted, but completely off,” but she “wouldn’t expect more from these propagandists.” Newsweek reports that according to another translation, Omar said that Somalis “are sisters and brothers, supporting each other, people who know they are Somalis and Muslims, coming to each other’s aid.”
Per that translation, she also said: “While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia’s sea. The United States will not back others to rob us. So, do not lose sleep over that.”
In part, due to her history of anti-American rhetoric, critics were outraged by her remarks regarding putting Somalia’s interests above the United States, the country she is an elected representative for.
“Expel from Congress, denaturalize and deport!” DeSantis said in response to her speech.
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“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,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said on Twitter.
