Trump Renews Attacks On Ilhan Omar Amid Minnesota Unrest

On January 20, 2026, President Donald Trump reignited a fierce and deeply personal feud with Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, unleashing a barrage of accusations and inflammatory rhetoric that has once again thrust the contentious issues of immigration, fraud, and law enforcement into the national spotlight. During a White House press briefing marking the one-year anniversary of his return to office, Trump did not mince words. He declared, "Somalia is not even a country. They don’t have anything that resembles a country," according to Reuters. The president’s comments, delivered with characteristic bravado, set the tone for a weekend of escalating political tension and public outrage.

Trump’s remarks were not confined to the White House podium. On Sunday, he took to Truth Social, his favored social media platform, to issue a series of posts targeting Omar, a Somali-born U.S. citizen who represents Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. According to Fox News, Trump wrote, "There is 19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud. Fake ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!"

The president’s accusations did not stop at fraud. He continued to allege that Omar, along with Minnesota’s "crooked Governor," was complicit in ignoring what he claimed was an "18 Billion Dollar, Plus, FRAUD" in the state. In another post, Trump asserted, "ICE is removing some of the most violent criminals in the World from our Country, and bring them back home, where they belong. Why is Minnesota fighting this? Do they really want murderers and drug dealers to be ensconced in their community? The thugs that are protesting include many highly paid professional agitators and anarchists. Is this really what Minnesota wants?"

Ilhan Omar, now 43, has long been a lightning rod for Trump’s ire. Her journey from war-torn Somalia to the halls of Congress is well documented. She and her family fled Somalia’s civil war in 1995, seeking refuge in the United States, and she became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Omar’s rapid ascent in American politics has made her a symbol of both the promise and the polarization of the nation’s immigration debate. Trump’s latest attacks, however, have taken the rhetoric to a new level, reviving unfounded claims and personal insults that have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.

The timing of Trump’s posts was no accident. Minnesota has been the scene of heated confrontations between anti-ICE protesters and federal immigration agents for several days leading up to January 7, 2026. The tension reached a tragic climax when ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good during a protest. The incident, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, quickly became a political flashpoint. Some politicians and commentators labeled Good’s death a murder, while Trump administration officials insisted that Ross acted in self-defense, describing Good as a "domestic terrorist."

Public reaction to the shooting has been sharply divided. Supporters of ICE and the Trump administration argue that law enforcement officers are under siege from violent agitators and that federal agents must be allowed to do their jobs without interference. Critics, meanwhile, see the shooting as the latest example of excessive force and a broader crackdown on dissent. The protests themselves have drawn a mix of local activists, concerned citizens, and, according to Trump, "highly paid professional agitators and anarchists." The president’s characterization of the protesters has only served to inflame passions on both sides.

Trump’s repeated references to massive fraud in Minnesota—citing figures of $18 billion and $19 billion—have raised eyebrows, not least because he has provided no concrete evidence to support these claims. The numbers themselves have shifted from post to post, and critics have accused the president of using unsubstantiated allegations to distract from the controversy surrounding the ICE shooting and to discredit political opponents like Omar. Still, the accusations have found traction among Trump’s base, many of whom view Omar with suspicion and see Minnesota as a hotbed of immigrant crime and corruption.

At the heart of the controversy is a broader debate about immigration, identity, and the role of law enforcement in American society. Trump’s assertion that "Somalia is not even a country" and his suggestion that Omar should be "sent back to Somalia" echo themes that have defined his political career. Supporters argue that the president is simply telling hard truths about failed states and the dangers of unchecked immigration. Detractors, however, see his comments as xenophobic and dangerous, an attempt to dehumanize immigrants and stoke division for political gain.

Omar, for her part, has not responded directly to Trump’s latest round of attacks, at least not in the immediate aftermath. In the past, she has forcefully defended her record and her right to represent her constituents, pointing to her own story as evidence of America’s capacity for renewal and inclusion. Her supporters in Minnesota and beyond have rallied to her defense, condemning Trump’s rhetoric as not only factually baseless but also morally reprehensible.

The political fallout from these events is likely to be felt for weeks, if not months, to come. With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, both parties are seizing on the controversy to mobilize their respective bases. Republicans frame the confrontation as a battle for law and order, warning that Democratic leaders like Omar and Minnesota’s governor are putting communities at risk by opposing federal immigration enforcement. Democrats, meanwhile, argue that Trump’s tactics are a distraction from real issues and a dangerous escalation that threatens the fabric of American democracy.

As the dust settles in Minnesota, one thing is clear: the intersection of immigration, race, and political power remains as volatile as ever. Trump’s willingness to target individual lawmakers, question their loyalty, and cast aspersions on entire communities is unlikely to abate. For Ilhan Omar and the people she represents, the struggle is not only for justice in the wake of a deadly shooting but for the right to belong in a nation still grappling with the meaning of citizenship and the boundaries of inclusion.

The events of January 2026 have laid bare the deep divisions and high stakes of America’s ongoing debate over who gets to call this country home—and who gets to decide.