Innumerable politicians and commentators came to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN-05) defense Saturday morning after President Donald Trump tweeted out a video of her controversial remarks at a recent CAIR fundraiser.
As The Minnesota Sun reported, Omar delivered the keynote address at CAIR’s March fundraiser in Los Angeles, and faced criticism last week after video from the event showed her describing the 9/11 terror attacks as “some people did something.”
On Friday, Trump tweeted a video of Omar’s remarks that was spliced together with footage from the attacks, captioning his tweet with “we will never forget.”
WE WILL NEVER FORGET! pic.twitter.com/VxrGFRFeJM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2019
By Saturday morning, Omar was trending on Twitter along with the hashtag “IStandWithIlhanOmar.”
“The video that Donald Trump posted is dangerous, reckless, and I would say criminal,” DFL Chairman Ken Martin said. “For a president to target Ilhan, a member of Congress, is abhorrent to the values of our democracy. No member of congress should have to fear for their safety and his actions cross the line.”
The video that @realdonaldtrump posted is dangerous, reckless & I would say criminal. For a President to target @Ilhan, a member of congress, is abhorrent to the values of our democracy. No member of congress should have to fear for their safety and his actions cross the line.
— Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) April 13, 2019
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), a fellow freshman member of Congress, said he was “disgusted” by the president’s tweet.
“I’m disgusted by the president’s use of 9/11 imagery for a political attack and by the weaponization of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of hate,” he said. “I’m disgusted that two colleagues have been shot in recent years and others are subject to death threats. Enough!”
I’m disgusted by the President’s use of 9/11 imagery for a political attack & by the weaponization of anti-semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of hate. I’m disgusted that two colleagues have been shot in recent years and others are subject to death threats. Enough!
— Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) April 13, 2019
“The attacks against Rep. Omar are not okay. You can disagree with someone’s words without encouraging and inciting hate. The video the president shared is wrong plain and simple,” Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02) added.
The attacks against Rep. Omar are not okay. You can disagree with someone’s words without encouraging and inciting hate. The video the President shared is wrong plain and simple.
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) April 13, 2019
Both of Minnesota’s senators weighed in on the discussion, with Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) saying Trump used Omar’s “words out of context to incite fear and hatred.”
Don't get used to this. This is our President attacking a Minnesotan, using Rep. @IlhanMN's words out of context to incite fear and hatred. This is not who we are. https://t.co/nvmG02qIMb
— Tina Smith (@TinaSmithMN) April 13, 2019
“Someone has already been charged with a serious threat on Congresswoman Omar’s life. The video the president chose to send out today will only incite more hate. You can disagree with her words—as I have done before—but this video is wrong. Enough,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said.
Someone has already been charged with a serious threat on Congresswoman Omar’s life. The video the President chose to send out today will only incite more hate. You can disagree with her words—as I have done before—but this video is wrong. Enough.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 13, 2019
Attorney General Keith Ellison, who represented Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District before Omar, said his successor “is a target of anti-Muslim hate and violent incitement at the hands of the president.”
My successor @IlhanMN Omar is a target of anti-Muslim hate and violent incitement – at the hands of the President. I condemn it. https://t.co/HimxYDxmTB
— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) April 13, 2019
Later Saturday afternoon, Gov. Tim Walz said “Trump’s attack on Rep. Omar is inflammatory and unacceptable.”
“Our political leaders must seek to bridge divides, not fan the flames of hostility,” he added.
President Trump’s attack on Rep. Omar is inflammatory and unacceptable. Our political leaders must seek to bridge divides — not fan the flames of hostility.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) April 13, 2019
Trump is scheduled to visit Minnesota Monday for a roundtable discussion at Nuss Truck and Equipment in Burnsville.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ken Martin” by Ken Martin. Photo “Dean Phillips” by Dean Phillips. Photo “Angie Craig” by Lorie Schaull. CC BY-SA 2.0.
