President Donald Trump targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) during a Thursday Oval Office press event, delivering a quip that prompted laughter from Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and other officials.
Trump said he had spoken with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, jokingly suggesting the East African nation “take back” Omar following her controversial remarks about the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.
“I met the head of Somalia, did you know that?” Trump told reporters. “And I suggested that maybe he’d like to take her back. And he said, ‘I don’t want her.’”
The outspoken “Squad” member has a history of criticizing Kirk and TPUSA, highlighting what she perceives as harmful rhetoric and the organization’s political influence.
Following Kirk’s assassination at a speaking event in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, Omar criticized the public outpouring of support for him, describing his rhetoric as “hateful” and calling him a “reprehensible human being” and a “stochastic terrorist.”
She also accused Kirk of downplaying the affects of slavery and condemned his comments about George Floyd.
“There is nothing more f’ed up than to completely pretend that his words and actions haven’t been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so,” she said.
She later elaborated on CNN, “I’m not going to sit here and be judged for not wanting to honor any legacy this man has left behind. That should be in the dustbin of history, and we should hopefully move on and forget the hate that he spewed every single day.”
Despite the intensity of her remarks, Omar faced no formal action from the House of Representatives, a decision that sparked criticism from Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators who argued that accountability was necessary for incendiary rhetoric.
Congressional Republicans pushed back.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a censure resolution, calling Omar’s statements “celebrating murder,” though the measure failed when four House Republicans joined Democrats in opposition.
Outside Congress, professional golfer Phil Mickelson weighed in, posting on X that Omar should be “sent back” to Somalia.
“Ilhan spews hate every time she opens her mouth. She came here fraudulently and will hopefully be sent back to Somalia soon,” he said.
Trump also criticized Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) during the Oval Office event, describing her as “a very low IQ person” and questioning her qualifications.
These remarks came as Trump signed an executive order facilitating the potential $14 billion sale of TikTok, aimed at increasing U.S. oversight of the platform.
While several members of his cabinet were present, TownHall notes that the president’s off-script commentary dominated the event.
Omar responded by labeling Trump a “lying buffoon,” dismissing his comments as a stunt intended to embarrass her, according to the New York Post.
The exchange highlights the growing political divide following Kirk’s death, with outspoken conservative figures and progressive lawmakers clashing publicly over rhetoric and accountability.
The controversy reflects heightened tensions in American politics, where debates over legacy, public statements and accountability continue to dominate headlines.
Trump’s Oval Office quip, Omar’s remark and the reactions from lawmakers and public figures underscore the intensity of partisan battles shaping the national conversation.
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