Trump has repeatedly targeted Omar, a Somali-born progressive Democrat who became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) - President Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar Tuesday by appearing to link her to the terrorist group ISIS, further inflaming tensions over her Somali heritage.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump reshared a year-old article reporting U.S. airstrikes that killed 14 ISIS operatives in a cave complex near Bosaso, Somalia.
Alongside the post, Trump added a baseless comment: “Was Ilhan Omar there to protect her corrupt ‘homeland?’”
For years, Trump has repeatedly targeted Omar, a Somali-born progressive Democrat who became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
His attacks have increasingly included racist and xenophobic language, calling for her deportation and mocking her for wearing a hijab.
Trump has also used her name in broader assaults on Somali-Americans, whom he has labeled “garbage” and accused of widespread fraud.
The latest post is part of a pattern in which Trump attempts to dehumanize Omar by associating her with a notorious terrorist organization.
There is no evidence linking Omar to ISIS, and the article he cited is unrelated to her.
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Omar’s office has not commented on the latest post, though she has repeatedly condemned Trump’s rhetoric, which she says has led to multiple death threats.
Tensions have grown as the Trump administration increased immigration enforcement in Minnesota, targeting Somali-American communities.
Omar has been a vocal critic of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, accusing officers of violating the law and calling for the agency to be abolished.
Recently, she was sprayed with vinegar during a press conference denouncing aggressive enforcement, an incident she blamed on the climate of hate stoked by Trump.
Omar’s story is rooted in survival and resilience. Her family fled the Somali Civil War and sought asylum in the U.S. in 1995 after living in a refugee camp in Kenya.
In 2018, she became the first Somali-American elected to Congress and one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the House.
Despite her pioneering role, Trump continues to weaponize her identity and heritage to inflame public fear.
By linking Omar to ISIS without evidence, Trump’s comments highlight the president’s ongoing efforts to vilify Somali-Americans while undermining the credibility of one of the nation’s most prominent Somali-born lawmakers.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.
