In a continued assault on Somali-born American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, U.S. President Donald Trump once more targeted her immigration background. On Friday, Trump accused Omar of entering the U.S. unlawfully and alleged she married her brother for immigration benefits.
Following an incident where an Afghan national fired on two National Guard soldiers near the White House, Trump reiterated his hardline immigration stance by making this contentious claim.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump labeled Omar as America's worst congresswoman, stating that she had married her brother to gain immigration advantages while representing Minnesota.
Trump wrote, “Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her hijab, possibly snuck into America illegally because marrying your brother is against the rules.
All she does is complain with hatred about our country, its constitution, and how she's mistreated."
He went on to describe Somalia as a decayed, backward, and crime-ridden country.
However, there is no evidence to suggest that Ilhan Omar ever married a relative or committed immigration fraud. Trump provided no facts to support his claims.
Who is Ilhan Omar?
Born in Somalia, Omar fled the country at the age of eight during its civil war. After spending four years in a Kenyan refugee camp, she arrived in the U.S. in 1995 and became an American citizen in 2000. A Democratic leader known for her stance against India, Omar has been elected to Congress for the fourth time in 2024.
In 2002, she married Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi in a religious ceremony, and they had two children. Omar married Ahmed Elmi in 2009, but they separated in 2011. Omar and her first husband Hirsi had a third child in 2012. Omar divorced Elmi in 2017 and remarried Hirsi the next year, though they divorced again in 2020. She is currently married to political consultant Tim Mynett.
The UK's Daily Mail reported that Omar allegedly told friends Elmi was her biological brother and their marriage was for immigration purposes. However, this claim has never been independently verified.
Why Have Trump’s Attacks Increased?
Trump's heated attack on Omar comes at a time when he has announced ending temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota. Currently, approximately 700 Somali immigrants reside in the U.S. Additionally, America is set to reassess green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries, including Somalia.
Trump added, “Somali gangs roam the streets looking for prey while our good citizens keep to their homes, praying for safety.”
Notably, this is not the first time in recent weeks that Trump and his MAGA supporters have targeted Congresswoman Omar. Earlier this month, Trump also attacked Omar's Somali heritage, advising her to leave the U.S.
