Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar criticized President Donald Trump for using “hateful rhetoric” against her and indicated that he has made her a target for other attacks.
“Since I entered elected office, the facts have shown that every time the President of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to discuss me and the community I represent, my death threats increase significantly,” Omar said on Wednesday.
“I wouldn’t be in the situation I am today, having to pay for security and having the government consider providing me with security, if Donald Trump wasn’t in office and if he wasn’t so fixated on me,” she added.
Omar also accused the “right wing” of using rhetoric as a tactic to prevent her from serving in public. “It won’t work,” she said, stressing that “fear and intimidation” won’t affect her.
The Congresswoman was approached by a man with a syringe on Tuesday afternoon during a Town Hall meeting in Minneapolis. The man sprayed her with an unknown substance before being restrained by on-site security. The suspect in the attack was identified as 55-year-old Anthony J. Kazmierczak. He has been arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault. The FBI is now investigating.
A social media account believed to belong to Kazmierczak has featured profile pictures of Trump and has also uploaded cartoons criticizing Democrats’ policies.
Trump has long targeted Omar and her birthplace, Somalia, during his anti-immigration speeches and remarks.
In December, while delivering a speech in Pennsylvania, he claimed she does “nothing but bitch” and argued that she comes from a country considered to be “the worst” in the world. “We should get her the hell out,” the President said, pausing as members of the crowd chanted “send her back.”
Omar, who was born in Somalia and obtained U.S. citizenship at the age of 17 in 2000, responded at the time by saying Trump’s “obsession” with her is “beyond strange” and went on to call him a “national embarrassment.”
Protesters and Democratic lawmakers condemned him in December after he said Somalia is “barely a country” and referred to Somali immigrants as “garbage.”
“Our country is at a critical point; we could go in the wrong direction, and we will if we keep bringing in garbage,” he claimed during a Cabinet meeting.
The President has pointed to well-documented instances of “” in Minnesota involving people of Somali ancestry and welfare programs and has seemingly resorted to blaming the entire community rather than the individuals involved.
The Trump Administration is currently facing widespread scrutiny over its immigration enforcement in Minnesota after two U.S. citizens—Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both 37—were fatally shot by federal agents on the streets of Minneapolis.
In the aftermath of Pretti’s shooting, Trump lashed out at the Democratic leadership of Minnesota and appeared to suggest that the shooting was a “cover-up” for the fraud investigations occurring in the state.
Earlier this week, Trump said the Justice Department is “looking into” Omar specifically.
“The DOJ and Congress are looking at Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who left Somalia with nothing and is now reportedly worth more than 44 million dollars. Time will tell all,” he said.
Trump has since announced the appointment of his first “Fraud Czar,” sparking concerns of.
Hours before Omar was attacked on Tuesday, Trump mentioned Omar during a speech in Iowa. Regarding immigrants, he said: “They have to show that they can love our country. They have to be proud. Not like Ilhan Omar.”
After the attack, Trump’s initial reaction was to suggest, without evidence, that Omar had staged the incident herself.
“I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud,” Trump told ABC News. “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
In response to the unfounded claim, Omar said Trump lacks “compassion” and pointed out that her attack, like the deaths of Good and Pretti, was “caught on camera.”
During an interview with CNN, Omar went on to suggest that it might be “time” to invoke the 25th Amendment, echoing remarks made by several of her Democratic colleagues who have also suggested this.
