President Donald Trump tore into Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Thursday, blasting her over remarks she made about the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk — and reigniting a political firestorm in Washington.
In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump not only condemned Omar’s statements but also attacked her home country of Somalia, drawing sharp responses from across the political spectrum.
Trump’s Scathing Truth Social Post
“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,” Trump wrote.
“70% 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. All of this, and Ilhan Omar tells us how to run America!”
Trump then escalated his attack, referencing a long-standing controversy surrounding Omar:
“P.S. Wasn’t she the one that married her brother in order to gain Citizenship??? What SCUM we have in our Country, telling us what to do, and how to do it. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Omar Faces Censure Effort
The president’s remarks came just hours after Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) led a censure resolution against Omar over her disputed comments about Kirk’s assassination.
The measure narrowly failed, 214–213, after four Republicans — Reps. Mike Flood (NE), Tom McClintock (CA), Jeff Hurd (CO), and Cory Mills (FL) — joined Democrats in voting to table it.
Mace has been vocal about holding Omar accountable. In a statement, she told Explain America’s Carmine Sabia:
“If you’re Somalia first, you’re not America first, and a one-way ticket to Somalia is the nicest thing we could do.”
She also posted on X:
“If you celebrate murder, maybe Somalia can take you back.”
Omar Denies, But Doubles Down
Omar pushed back on the censure attempt, arguing that the resolution contained no direct quotes from her.
“Fun fact: Nancy Mace is trying to censure me over comments I never said. Her res does not contain a single quote from me because she couldn’t find any,” Omar wrote on X. “Unlike her, I have routinely condemned political violence, no matter the political ideology.”
Still, Omar did not shy away from sharp criticism of Kirk himself. In an interview with progressive outlet Zeteo, she said:
“He had previously downplayed slavery and what Black people have gone through in this country by saying Juneteenth shouldn’t exist.
There are a lot of people out there talking about him just wanting to have a civil debate. There is nothing more effed up than to completely pretend that his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so.”
GOP Allies Pile On
Several Republicans sided with Trump and Mace, accusing Omar of crossing a line by disparaging Kirk in the wake of his murder.
“Ilhan Omar didn’t just make reprehensible comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination,” said Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX). “She shared a disgusting video claiming Charlie had it coming to him. People are losing their jobs for far less.”
Fox News Digital reported that Mace doubled down following the failed censure vote:
“What’s not ‘well’ is celebrating political violence. What’s not ‘smart’ is defending it. Omar should be ashamed of herself.”
The Political Fallout
The feud has only heightened tensions on Capitol Hill, where the assassination of Kirk continues to reverberate. Republicans see Omar’s remarks as emblematic of what they describe as the left’s tolerance for political violence, while Democrats accuse the GOP of exploiting the tragedy for partisan gain.
For Trump, the controversy fits neatly into his 2025 messaging as he leans hard into cultural battles and law-and-order themes ahead of the next election cycle.
With Kirk’s funeral scheduled for Sunday in Phoenix — where Trump is expected to deliver a eulogy — the late activist’s death remains both a personal and political flashpoint.
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.
