Conservatives are calling for Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar to be deported over comments she allegedly made about Somalia.
Omar, a Somali American and Muslim, sparked a backlash after a clip of the lawmaker's recent remarks to Somali American constituents went viral on X, formerly Twitter.
In the remarks, Omar addressed the deal struck by Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland with landlocked Ethiopia to give it access to the sea.
According to the translation of her remarks first shared on X by Ambassador Rhoda J. Elmi, Somaliland's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar purportedly said that she was "Somalian first, Muslim second" and "here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system."
She is also alleged to have said that "as Somalis, one day we will go after our missing territories."
Omar later defended her remarks, saying the translation on the viral clip was "not only slanted, but completely off," but she "wouldn't expect more from these propagandists."
According to another translation, Omar said that Somalis "are sisters and brothers, supporting each other, people who know they are Somalis and Muslims, coming to each other's aid."
Per that translation, she also said: "While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia's sea. The United States will not back others to rob us. So, do not lose sleep over that."
Conservatives, many of whom have long been critical of Omar, a progressive Democrat, accused her of putting Somalia's interests above those of the U.S.
"Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar in her own words: Somalian first. Muslim second. She never mentions America," Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican, wrote on X on Monday.
"She flaunts using her position as congresswoman to protect Somalia's border while our border is invaded by MILLIONS of illegals who are a danger to America."
And in response to a post from Omar where she noted that "Somali people are called Somalis, not 'Somalians,'" Greene added: "Patriots, you must show up big in 2024. We have a country to save and people to deport."
Newsweek reached out to Omar and Greene's offices for comment via email.
Others called for Omar to be expelled from Congress and deported.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Minnesota representative, has said Omar should resign.
Omar's "appalling, Somalia-first comments are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office," Emmer wrote on X. "She should resign in disgrace."
Conservative political commentator Matt Walsh wrote: "Every Republican member of congress should be calling for Ilhan Omar to be expelled from congress and deported back to where she came from."
An account called "End Wokeness" with more than 2 million followers claimed Omar "didn't just break her oath of office," but also her "oath of American citizenship."
"She should be expelled and deported," the account posted.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/i...S&cvid=2a25d8d4a5d04b81b82e47786b0c2f3e&ei=65
Omar, a Somali American and Muslim, sparked a backlash after a clip of the lawmaker's recent remarks to Somali American constituents went viral on X, formerly Twitter.
In the remarks, Omar addressed the deal struck by Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland with landlocked Ethiopia to give it access to the sea.
According to the translation of her remarks first shared on X by Ambassador Rhoda J. Elmi, Somaliland's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar purportedly said that she was "Somalian first, Muslim second" and "here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system."
She is also alleged to have said that "as Somalis, one day we will go after our missing territories."
Omar later defended her remarks, saying the translation on the viral clip was "not only slanted, but completely off," but she "wouldn't expect more from these propagandists."
According to another translation, Omar said that Somalis "are sisters and brothers, supporting each other, people who know they are Somalis and Muslims, coming to each other's aid."
Per that translation, she also said: "While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia's sea. The United States will not back others to rob us. So, do not lose sleep over that."
Conservatives, many of whom have long been critical of Omar, a progressive Democrat, accused her of putting Somalia's interests above those of the U.S.
"Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar in her own words: Somalian first. Muslim second. She never mentions America," Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican, wrote on X on Monday.
"She flaunts using her position as congresswoman to protect Somalia's border while our border is invaded by MILLIONS of illegals who are a danger to America."
And in response to a post from Omar where she noted that "Somali people are called Somalis, not 'Somalians,'" Greene added: "Patriots, you must show up big in 2024. We have a country to save and people to deport."
Newsweek reached out to Omar and Greene's offices for comment via email.
Others called for Omar to be expelled from Congress and deported.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Minnesota representative, has said Omar should resign.
Omar's "appalling, Somalia-first comments are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office," Emmer wrote on X. "She should resign in disgrace."
Conservative political commentator Matt Walsh wrote: "Every Republican member of congress should be calling for Ilhan Omar to be expelled from congress and deported back to where she came from."
An account called "End Wokeness" with more than 2 million followers claimed Omar "didn't just break her oath of office," but also her "oath of American citizenship."
"She should be expelled and deported," the account posted.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/i...S&cvid=2a25d8d4a5d04b81b82e47786b0c2f3e&ei=65
