Washington DC, United States – President Donald Trump of the United States on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, reviving his criticisms of her Somali heritage while weighing in on her latest controversy.
In a post on X, Trump described Somalia — Omar’s country of birth — as one of the “world’s most corrupt nations,” citing bribery, embezzlement, and government dysfunction as examples. He went on to question the congresswoman’s citizenship, echoing past rhetoric that has drawn accusations of xenophobia and racism.
“Somalia is consistently ranked among the World’s Most Corrupt Countries, including Bribery, Embezzlement, and a Dysfunctional Government,” Trump wrote.
The comments came as the House of Representatives debated whether to censure Omar for remarks she made regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Omar, one of the most outspoken progressive voices in Congress, has faced repeated Republican-led attempts to censure or remove her from committees over her positions on U.S. foreign policy, immigration, and domestic politics.
Trump’s attack marks a continuation of his long-standing feud with Omar, who has frequently criticized his policies and rhetoric as harmful to immigrants, Muslims, and minority communities. Omar, who fled Somalia as a child and later resettled in the United States as a refugee, became the first Somali-American elected to Congress in 2018.
While Trump’s comments resonated with some of his conservative base, critics argued that his remarks were aimed at inflaming tensions and distracting from the House proceedings. Supporters of Omar defended her right to speak freely and accused Trump of targeting her because of her identity as a Black Muslim woman.
The House vote on Omar’s censure is expected to intensify partisan divides, with Republicans largely in favor and Democrats denouncing the move as politically motivated.