Trump says Ilhan Omar could face jail as he attacks her Somali roots

During a recent Oval Office event, US President Donald Trump made controversial remarks about Democratic representative Ilhan Omar, suggesting she could face jail time and criticizing her Somali heritage. Addressing the issue as part of a federal fraud whistleblower incentive program unveiling, Trump labeled Ms. Omar "a sick and very dishonest person" who "hates our country." He reiterated his opinion, stating, "I think she's a sick, a very dishonest person who hates our country."

Trump has previously targeted Ms. Omar, a Somali-born American citizen and one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress. In recent months, federal agents raided her Washington home as part of a criminal fraud investigation into her immigration paperwork. Despite allegations she denies as false and politically motivated, Ms. Omar arrived in the US as a child, fleeing Somalia's civil war.

She was elected to Congress in 2019, representing Minnesota's 5th District. A critic of Trump, she plans to seek re-election in November's midterms, as the state has a significant Somali community.

Trump described Somalia as "a real [expletive]" with "no government" and "all they do is have people running around shooting each other." He claimed that Somalis vote for Ms. Omar, describing her as a "disgrace to our country." The president's comments come amid a surge in Islamophobic speech, particularly directed at Muslim candidates and elected officials.

He has frequently attacked other Muslim politicians, such as Abdul El-Sayed, who is seeking a Senate seat in Michigan and would be the first Muslim senator in US history if elected. Much of Trump's attacks have occurred during campaign rallies and online platforms.