Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) returned to Minnesota Thursday night from Washington, D.C. For members of Congress, flights between the nation’s capital and home states are a routine part of the job. But Omar was greeted by a crowd of supporters, and local media were there to cover her return.
“Congresswoman Omar just arrived back in the Twin Cities,” reported Tom Hauser, chief political reporter for KSTP.
Congresswoman Omar just arrived back in the Twin Cities. pic.twitter.com/ZiFqWnDJgQ
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) July 18, 2019
“MN Congresswoman Ilhan Omar received a rousing welcome home from Washington after several days of feuding with President Trump. She made it clear she will not back down,” he added.
MN Congresswoman Ilhan Omar received a rousing welcome home from Washington after several days of feuding with President Trump. She made it clear she will not back down. #omar pic.twitter.com/L7krbsHsKv
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) July 18, 2019
The Star Tribune provided glowing coverage of Omar’s return to Minnesota, running a headline of: “Supporters rally around Ilhan Omar following ‘Send her Back!’ attacks.”
Omar briefly addressed the crowd of supporters gathered to greet her at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
“We are going to continue to be a nightmare to this president, because his policies are a nightmare to us,” she said.
Some, including President Donald Trump, suggested that the event was staged and criticized the media for their coverage.
“Mainstream media, which has lost all credibility, has either officially or unofficially become a part of the radical left Democrat Party. It is a sick partnership, so pathetic to watch! They even covered a tiny staged crowd as they greeted Foul Mouthed Omar in Minnesota, a state which I will win in 2020 because they can’t stand her and her hatred of our country,” Trump wrote on Twitter early Friday morning.
….Mainstream Media, which has lost all credibility, has either officially or unofficially become a part of the Radical Left Democrat Party. It is a sick partnership, so pathetic to watch! They even covered a tiny staged crowd as they greeted Foul Mouthed Omar in Minnesota, a…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2019
State Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) questioned if the media was “there as an objective party or as [a] fan club.”
Is media there as an objective party or as fan club?
— Rep. Mary Franson (@RepMaryFranson) July 18, 2019
Controversial conservative journalist Mike Cernovich said the coverage of Omar’s return is “what propaganda looks like.”
“This was staged but it’s shown as ‘news,’” he claimed.
This is what propaganda looks like. This was staged but it’s shown as “news.” https://t.co/N2a8YYlimT
— Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 19, 2019
The event was organized by Take Action Minnesota, which put out a press release for the gathering and invited MPR News and the Associated Press to attend.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Welcome Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Home!
WHEN: TODAY July 18 at 5 p.m.
WHERE: MSP Airport Terminal 1
WHAT: 🎶 Minnesotans singing 🎶and welcoming @IlhanMN home@MPRnews @AP #IStandWithIlhan
Details: https://t.co/4TE2a08RBg— Kenza Hadj-Moussa (@KenzaHadjMoussa) July 18, 2019
“Reporters and editors—hundreds of people expected. Grassroots event,” said Kenza Hadj-Moussa, communications director for Take Action Minnesota.
Back in Washington, liberal activists were holding an “all day vigil” outside of Omar’s office and inviting people to leave “notes of love and solidarity.”
BREAKING: All day vigil today outside @IlhanMN's DC office –people leaving notes of love and solidarity.
Not in DC but want to send your support to the Congresswoman? Write your note in the comments and we will place it on the wall. pic.twitter.com/a9OIS6oP3T
— CODEPINK (@codepink) July 19, 2019
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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 “Ilhan Omar Airport Arrival” by KARE 11.
Did anyone estimate the amount of people. NBC in DC estimated around 100 people attended the HUGE rally.