Mogadishu, Somalia – A tense confrontation has erupted on Capitol Hill after Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) suggested that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) should “maybe let Somalia take you back,” prompting a sharp response from Omar, who said Mace is neither “well nor smart” for making such a remark. The dispute stems from Mace’s resolution to censure Omar and remove her from committee assignments, accusing her of defaming conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Mace claims Omar implied Kirk bore responsibility for his own murder in both an interview and related social media commentary. She framed Omar’s statements as part of a broader pattern of inflammatory speech.
In support of her measure, Mace pointed to Omar’s 2022 comments asserting that the First Amendment shields speech from government punishment but not from consequences such as shaming or exclusion. Mace argued that Omar should now face similar repercussions for her words. Omar, a Somali-born lawmaker and one of the first Muslim women in Congress, denounced Mace’s “Somalia” remark as xenophobic and racist, describing it as an attempt to question her belonging and silence her voice. She said that such rhetoric reflects a lack of substantive argument and vowed she is “not going anywhere.”
Democrats have rallied to Omar’s defense, accusing Mace of engaging in nativism and Islamophobia. Republicans view the censure effort as a means to hold Omar accountable for remarks they deem offensive, while Democrats contend it is politically motivated and rooted in personal hostility. House leadership has not yet indicated when Mace’s proposal might advance, but both lawmakers appear prepared for a prolonged battle.