The US Congressman was sprayed with a substance from a syringe as she spoke at an event in Minneapolis.
The Congresswoman has faced stinging criticism from Donald Trump (Image: Getty)
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has broken her silence after she was sprayed with an unknown substance during a town hall event in Minneapolis. The city has seen tensions rise significantly in recent weeks after immigration agents fatally shot an intensive care nurse and a mother of three.
Speaking prior to the incident , Ms Omar, who has been the victim of racial slurs and derogatory remarks from President Trump and his supporters, called for the abolishment of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She also told attendees that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign, stating that “ICE cannot be reformed.” After being approached at the lectern by a man wearing a black jacket, Ms Omar turned to face him and moved towards him with her arm raised, seemingly not cowered.
The audience cheered as the man was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back.
In video footage of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying: “Oh my God, he sprayed something on her.”
Ms Omar continued the event after the man was ushered out of the room.
Speaking after the incident, the congresswoman’s office issued a statement, confirming that Ms Omar was sprayed “with a syringe.”
It read: “During her town hall, an agitator tried to attack the Congresswoman by spraying an unknown substance with a syringe. Security and the Minneapolis Police Department quickly apprehended the individual. He is now in custody.
“The Congresswoman is okay. She continued with her town hall because she doesn’t let bullies win.”
Tensions remain high in Minneapolis following two shootings by ICE agents (Image: Getty)
Ms Omar added on X: “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.
“I don’t let bullies win. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”
Many online were full of praise for Ms Omar’s response to the attack.
Karly Kingsley said on X: “Can we talk about how Ilhan Omar was ready to throw hands with a man twice her size and then just got straight back to work?
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“I wish I lived in Minnesota just so I could vote for her.”
Another added: “Ilhan Omar spent four years in a refugee camp and ended up becoming a Congresswoman. She represents the best of America, while Donald Trump represents the worst.”
Donald Trump falsely accuses Ilhan Omar of marrying her brother
In a vitriolic social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump has called Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar “scum,” and even repeated the debunked conspiracy theory that she married her brother to get U.S. citizenship.
Trump’s outburst, in which he also denigrated Somalia, came after Omar criticised Charlie Kirk’s right-wing views after his assassination.
“Ilhan Omar’s Country of Somalia is plagued by a lack of central Government control, persistent Poverty, Hunger, Resurgent Terrorism, Piracy, decades of Civil War, Corruption, and pervasive Violence,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“Seventy percent of the population lives in extreme Poverty, and widespread Food Insecurity. Somalia is consistently ranked among the World’s Most Corrupt Countries, including Bribery, Embezzlement, and a Dysfunctional Government.”
Trump concluded: “All of this, and Ilhan Omar tells us how to run America! P.S. Wasn’t she the one that married her brother to gain Citizenship? What SCUM we have in our Country.”
The claim that Ilhan Omar married her brother is a baseless conspiracy theory from 2016, alleging she wed Ahmed Nur Said Elmi to secure his U.S. immigration status.
No credible evidence — birth certificates, DNA, or immigration records — supports Elmi being her sibling.
Omar’s marriage timeline shows a 2009 legal marriage to Elmi, dissolved in 2017, with no immigration benefits tied to it.
The claim nevertheless persists due to political motivations but lacks substantiation.
Ilhan Omar on Kirk
Trump’s invective came amid a week of intense political backlash for Omar, over her comments on the assassination of the Islamophobic, pro-Israel activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on 10 September at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah. Suspect Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested in connection with his killing.
Omar had criticised public mourning for Kirk during a September 11 podcast, calling those claiming he “just wanted to have a civil debate” “full of s—.”
She also reposted a video calling Kirk a “stochastic terrorist” and a “reprehensible human being.”
Republican Representative Nancy Mace filed a resolution to censure Omar, seeking her removal from the Education and Workforce and Budget committees.
“If you mock a political assassination and celebrate murder, you don’t get to keep your committee seat, you get consequences,” Mace said.
Despite Mace’s effort, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 214-213 not to censure Omar, with four Republican lawmakers — Cory Mills, Jeff Hurd, Tom McClintock, and Mike Flood — voting with Democrats.
McClintock acknowledged Omar’s comments were “disgusting and hateful” but argued they were protected under the First Amendment.
The week in whoppers: The NY Times dreams of a MAGA ‘uproar’ over Trump, Rep. Ilhan Omar slurs America and more
Diary of disturbing disinformation and dangerous delusions
This story:
“Trump’s Base in Uproar Over His Openness to Joining Iran Fight” — The New York Times, Wednesday
We say: Sorry, Gray Lady, but a new poll by J.L. Partners shows “MAGA Republicans” overwhelmingly support US strikes on Iran — indeed, by more than 3-1. Just 19% oppose them.
The Times may be drooling at the thought of MAGA ditching President Donald Trump if he joins Israel’s attack, or maybe even getting him to stand down.
But in real life, folks from Trump’s “base” are sticking with him — and are far from the isolationists the Times pretends.
