A recent attack on Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar at a Minneapolis town hall has drawn renewed attention to years of hostile rhetoric directed at her by former US President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported.
The incident followed a rally in Iowa on 27 January, where Trump spoke about immigration and singled out Omar, saying immigrants should show love for the United States “not like Ilhan Omar,” prompting boos from the crowd.
Shortly afterward, Omar was speaking at a community event in North Minneapolis when a man approached the lectern and sprayed her with a strong-smelling liquid. She was not seriously injured. At the time, she was discussing immigration enforcement and calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation.
The attack occurred amid rising threats against public officials, which have led many lawmakers to limit or cancel public events. Omar, a Somali-born Muslim elected in 2018 as one of the first two Muslim women in Congress, has faced particularly high levels of hostility. Previously, she had been assigned a 24-hour Capitol Police security detail, which had lapsed over the past year. Following the attack, she formally requested additional protection, which House Speaker Mike Johnson granted. Her campaign also issued a fundraising appeal to cover private security costs at public events.
Despite the attack, Omar continued her schedule and held a news conference the following day. She emphasized resilience, citing her experiences fleeing Somalia at age eight, spending years in a Kenyan refugee camp, and later immigrating to the US and becoming a citizen.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Omar in speeches and on social media, often with personal attacks. Recently, he claimed on Truth Social that the Justice Department was investigating her and questioned her personal wealth, though no evidence supports these claims. In the past, he has encouraged crowds to call for Omar to be sent back to Somalia and promoted unverified claims about her personal life.
Omar has publicly responded to such allegations, including clarifying her marital history to counter rumors. Experts note she is among the most frequently targeted lawmakers, facing sustained accusations and personal attacks.
Lawmakers across party lines condemned the attack. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said public statements about Omar contributed to a hostile environment, while Republican Representative Nancy Mace said no elected official should face physical violence. Omar reiterated that she would not be intimidated and would continue carrying out her duties.