Washington DC, United States – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has sharply rebuked Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) after Mace suggested that “maybe Somalia can take you back,” escalating a heated clash between the two lawmakers.
Omar, a Somali-born U.S. citizen who has represented Minnesota’s 5th District since 2019, dismissed Mace’s comments as evidence that the South Carolina Republican is “not well or smart.” The remark came as Mace continues to lead an effort to censure Omar and remove her from congressional committees.
Mace’s push stems from accusations that Omar unfairly maligned conservative activist Charlie Kirk, linking his rhetoric to violence and murder. The Republican lawmaker has also cited a 2022 statement in which Omar argued that the First Amendment does not shield individuals from the social consequences of their speech—a remark critics say undermined constitutional protections.
The dispute reflects broader partisan divides over free speech, accountability, and the treatment of minority voices in Congress. Omar’s allies have condemned Mace’s “Somalia” remark as xenophobic, pointing out that Omar has been a U.S. citizen for more than two decades. Supporters argue that attempts to expel her from committee roles are part of a broader pattern of targeting progressive women of color in Congress.
Mace, meanwhile, has defended her efforts as a matter of “integrity and accountability,” insisting that lawmakers should not be allowed to smear political opponents without facing consequences.
The exchange underscores the rising political and cultural tensions ahead of a contentious election cycle, with both representatives leveraging the controversy to rally their respective bases.