Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has issued a blistering response after President Donald Trump suggested—without evidence—that she staged a physical attack in which she was sprayed with an unknown, foul-smelling substance during a public town hall event in Minneapolis.
The incident occurred Tuesday evening, January 27, while Omar, 43, was addressing constituents at a town hall focused on immigration policy and opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota. Video footage shows a man seated in the front row suddenly standing up, producing what appeared to be a syringe, and spraying a liquid toward Omar before being tackled by security and attendees.
The substance was described by witnesses as foul-smelling, and authorities have not publicly disclosed its contents. Omar was not seriously injured but was visibly shaken as security rushed her off the stage.
The suspect was later identified as Anthony James Kazmierczak, a 55-year-old Minneapolis resident. According to law enforcement, he was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with third-degree assault. Investigators have not released a motive but confirmed the attack occurred during Omar’s remarks criticizing ICE operations and calling for the resignation or impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Despite the attack being captured on video and resulting in criminal charges, Trump reacted dismissively when asked about the incident later that evening during an interview with ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott.
“I don’t think about her,” Trump said. “I think she’s a fraud. She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
Trump acknowledged he had not watched the video of the incident before making the claim.
The remarks sparked immediate backlash from Democrats and civil rights groups, who accused the president of minimizing political violence and recklessly endangering a sitting member of Congress.
The comments also followed a series of social media posts from Trump targeting Omar. Earlier this week, Trump posted on Truth Social alleging—without substantiation—that Omar had amassed a net worth of more than $44 million after arriving in the United States “with NOTHING.” He added, “Time will tell all,” and claimed that the Department of Justice and Congress were “looking at” her.
In another post, Trump repeated a phrase he has used against Omar in the past, calling for her to be “sent back to Somalia,” despite the fact that she has been a U.S. citizen for more than 25 years and arrived in the country as a child refugee.
On Wednesday night, Omar addressed Trump’s comments during an interview on CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins, delivering one of her most forceful public rebukes of the president to date.
Collins noted that following the assassination attempt against Trump earlier this year, Omar had publicly condemned the violence and offered prayers for the victims.
Omar contrasted that response with Trump’s reaction to her own attack.
“The difference between the president and I is that I was raised to be a decent human being, and my faith teaches me to have compassion,” Omar said. “And he lacks both of those things.”
She also questioned Trump’s claim that he “doesn’t think” about her, pointing out that he had publicly referenced her repeatedly in recent days.
“This is also somebody who was talking about me in his town hall in Iowa, and then seems to exhibit some sort of dementia when he says he doesn’t think about me,” she said. “Maybe it is time for the 25th Amendment to be invoked, because he certainly cannot remember what he said and has done an hour ago.”
Omar went on to argue that Trump’s rhetoric has directly contributed to threats against her personal safety, saying the attack fits a broader pattern she has experienced since entering national politics.
“What the facts have shown, since I’ve gotten into elected office, is that every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket,” she said.
Omar added that she has been forced to spend significant personal resources on security and that federal authorities have increasingly had to consider protective measures because of the volume and severity of threats.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today, having to pay for security, having the government think about providing me security, if Donald Trump wasn’t in office and if he wasn’t so obsessed with me,” she said.
The congresswoman, a frequent target of Trump’s attacks throughout his political career, has long argued that his language toward her—particularly references to her religion, immigration background, and loyalty—has placed her at heightened risk.
Civil rights advocates echoed those concerns, warning that dismissing or mocking political violence can encourage copycat behavior and further normalize attacks against public officials.
Despite the incident and Trump’s remarks, Omar struck a defiant tone, making clear she does not intend to be intimidated.
“You know, I’ve survived more,” she said. “And I’m definitely going to survive intimidation and whatever these people think that they can throw at me, because I’m built that way.”
Law enforcement officials have not indicated whether the attack is being investigated as a hate crime or politically motivated assault, though the timing and setting have raised questions about intent.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota, where federal actions have sparked protests, counter-protests, and increasingly aggressive political rhetoric from both sides.
Omar has called for stronger protections for elected officials, warning that attacks fueled by misinformation and dehumanizing language pose a growing threat to democratic participation.
As the investigation continues, the episode has reignited debate over the responsibility of national leaders to temper their language—particularly when addressing political opponents—and the real-world consequences of dismissing acts of violence as hoaxes or political theater.
For Omar, the message was clear: the attack was real, the danger is ongoing, and she holds the president’s words responsible for escalating the risks she faces.
James Jenkins is a celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose work has reshaped the way readers think about social justice and human rights in America. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, James grew up in a community that instilled in him both resilience and a strong sense of responsibility toward others. After studying political science and creative writing at Howard University, he worked as a journalist covering civil rights issues before dedicating himself fully to fiction. His novels are known for their sharp, empathetic portraits of marginalized communities and for weaving personal stories with broader political realities. Jenkins’s breakout novel, Shadows of Freedom, won national acclaim for its unflinching look at systemic inequality, while his more recent works explore themes of identity, resilience, and the fight for dignity in the face of oppression. Beyond his novels, James is an active public speaker, lecturing at universities and participating in nonprofit initiatives that support literacy and community empowerment. He believes that storytelling is a way to preserve history and inspire change. When not writing, James enjoys jazz music, mentoring young writers, and traveling with his family to explore cultures and stories around the world.
