Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is accused of “treason” and is calling for her removal from Congress amid intense opposition over a speech in which she unapologetically declared that she was “Somalia first.” push.
Somali Ambassador Rhoda Elmi posted a video of Omar's speech
The leaked video of Omar's Jan. 27 speech quickly went viral and drew widespread criticism, including from right-wing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who accused her colleague of using her position to protect people. who “hate America” and she also said she clearly admits that she is putting another country above American interests.
House Majority Leader Tim Emmer, who also represents a district in Minnesota, called for his colleague to resign.
“Ilhan Omar’s horrific first-time comments in Somalia are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office,” Rep. Emmer said in a statement, according to Alpha News. “She should resign in disgrace.”
Omar called the criticism “completely false” and claimed that as a US congresswoman, her top priority is to represent the best interests of the Somali people in America.
The team member was speaking in Somali at an event in Minneapolis on Saturday when the moment was caught on camera and shared online.
“Sleep peacefully knowing that I am here to protect Somalia’s interests within the US system,” Omar said, according to a translated version of the video.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is facing backlash for claiming that she puts Somalia's interests first in her role as a U.S. congresswoman
Brigitte Gabriel, founder and chair of ACT for America, wrote on X: “Ilhan Omar puts Somalia first, Islam second and America last.”
It also reaffirmed Somalia's “unity” with Ethiopia and Somaliland, an unrecognized state considered part of Somalia, and supported Somalia in forcibly reclaiming land surrounding it.
ACT for America founder and chairwoman Brigitte Gabriel wrote on X: “Ilhan Omar puts Somalia first, Islam second and America last.”
“We hope that the leadership of the House of Representatives and her caucus will take note of her public behavior as she is neither a Congresswoman of the United States nor a representative of the august House in which she serves,” Elmi wrote in her lengthy statement X was posted.
Rep. Greene wrote: “Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar in her own words: Somali first.” Muslim second. She never mentions America.”
“She is bragging about using her position as a congresswoman to protect the Somali border while our border is being invaded by MILLIONS of illegal immigrants who are a danger to America,” she added. “These people hate America and are so emboldened by Democrats’ contempt for our country that they don’t even try to hide it anymore.”
Oamr said in her speech: “The US government will only do what the Somalis in the US ask them to do. 'They will do what we want and nothing else.'
“They must obey our orders and that is how we will protect Somalia’s interests,” she added. “We Somalis must have the confidence that we are in charge in the USA”
“Together we will protect Somalia’s interests.”
Americans for Prosperity Tennessee Ambassador Robby Starbuck accused Omar of “openly declaring his allegiance to a foreign nation and using her position in government to put that foreign nation first.”
“This is treason,” he declared. “Ilhan Omar is an agent for Somalia. Everything is open. She should at least be removed from Congress. Absolutely crazy.'
Somali Ambassador Rhoda Elmi posted a video of Omar's speech
Omar spoke in Somali at an event in Minneapolis on Saturday, and the moment was captured on camera and shared online. She said: “Sleep peacefully knowing that I am here to protect Somalia’s interests within the US system.”
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (right) also weighed in with a post
This is not the first time there have been calls to remove Omar from her post in the US House of Representatives.
Omar's past anti-Semitic comments, as well as her calls for Israel to stop defending herself against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, led to calls from Republicans to remove her from Congress and led to censure resolutions from colleagues.
She is part of the progressive “squad” of lawmakers that includes Reps. Alexandria Ocasi-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Palestinian-American Rsahida Tlaib, among others.
Of those claiming that Omar is “Somalia first” based on his comments over the weekend, the lawmaker claims: “That's not just weird, it's completely wrong, but I wouldn't expect anything more from these propagandists.”
“I pray for them and for their mental health.” “No nation state can survive if its states start engaging in land lease negotiations with other countries without the consent of the federal government,” she added in a post on X. “Somalis in Somalia and in the diaspora are united in these efforts and 'I stand in solidarity with them.'
“No amount of harassment and lies will ever change that.”