President Donald Trump declared that Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar should be imprisoned or deported to Somalia, escalating his long-running attacks against the congresswoman.
At a Glance
- Trump posted on Truth Social that Omar “should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia”
- The president claims “19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud” without providing evidence
- Federal agents have flooded Minneapolis amid fraud probes, sparking clashes that left one civilian dead
- Why it matters: The rhetoric targets a sitting U.S. lawmaker and a major immigrant community, intensifying tensions in Minnesota
The January 18 Truth Social post is the latest salvo in Trump’s repeated public insults toward Omar, 43, who became the first Somali American in Congress when elected in 2019.
“There is 19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud. Fake ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know,” Trump wrote. “She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!”
Federal Surge Follows Fraud Allegations
The Trump administration has used fraud allegations to justify sending federal law-enforcement personnel to Minnesota, home to the nation’s largest Somali population. The increased presence has led to confrontations between agents and civilians, including two shootings in Minneapolis this month. One of those incidents resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good.
Omar, who has been a U.S. citizen since 2000, was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. After her family was granted asylum in 1995, they settled first in Virginia and later in Minneapolis.
The congresswoman did not directly respond to the president’s post. Instead, she marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day by sharing a quote from the civil-rights leader on X:
> “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
She added: “I’m thinking of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words today as we see the immense love our community has for one another, especially in this time of deep injustice.”
Omar’s office did not immediately reply to News Of Los Angeles‘s request for comment.
History of Inflammatory Remarks
Trump’s January 18 post continues a pattern of derogatory statements about Omar and Somali immigrants. During a December 2025 Cabinet meeting, the president called Omar and other Somalis “garbage” and suggested they “go back to where they came from.”
“I don’t want them in our country. I’ll be honest with you … Somebody will say, ‘Oh, that’s not politically correct.’ I don’t care. I don’t want them in our country,” Trump said at the White House discussion on immigration and Minnesota’s Somali community.
He continued: “Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks, and we don’t want them in our country. We’ve reached a tipping point … we could go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.”
At another point in the meeting, Trump stated: “Ilhan Omar is garbage. Her friends are garbage. These aren’t people that work. These aren’t people that say, ‘Let’s go, come on, let’s make this place great.’ These are people that do nothing but complain.”
> “You know, if they came from paradise, and they said, ‘This isn’t paradise,’ but when they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but b—-, we don’t want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it.”
The president’s remarks followed a New York Times report that federal prosecutors have charged dozens of people in Minnesota in connection with an alleged fraud case.
After the December Cabinet meeting, Omar reposted Trump’s comments on X and wrote: “His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.”
Community Impact
Minneapolis has seen heightened tensions since federal agents arrived, with community leaders expressing concern over both the fraud investigation and the rhetoric from the nation’s highest office. The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good during one of the recent confrontations has intensified calls for transparency and accountability.
Omar, who has represented Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District since 2019, has consistently pushed back against Trump’s characterizations, highlighting her own journey from refugee to lawmaker and emphasizing the contributions of Somali Americans to the state’s economy and culture.
The back-and-forth underscores the broader national debate over immigration, race, and the bounds of political discourse-issues that have flared repeatedly throughout Trump’s political career.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s Truth Social post calls for jailing or deporting a sitting congresswoman
- Federal agents deployed to Minnesota amid fraud allegations have clashed with civilians
- Omar, a U.S. citizen since 2000, responded only with a Martin Luther King Jr. Day quote
- Previous Trump remarks labeled Somali immigrants “garbage” and told them to “go back”
