President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a sharply worded attack on U.S. Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, questioning their qualifications and targeting Omar’s immigration background. His comments came during an Oval Office event tied to executive actions, but veered into personal insults.
Trump singled out Crockett first. “She’s a very low IQ person. I can’t even believe she’s a congressperson,” he said. When pressed on whether Crockett might face consequences for comparing ICE to slave patrols, Trump doubled down, calling Democratic critics “radical left lunatics.”
Turning to Omar, Trump claimed he had spoken with Somalia’s president and suggested the nation “take her back.” “Between her and Ilhan Omar … I met the head of Somalia … I suggested maybe he’d like to take her back, and he said, ‘I don’t want her,’” Trump said, adding that the president declined.
Responses from Crockett and Omar
Crockett responded later in the day, defending her record and style. “When you stand up to a bully, you win,” she said. “Do not back down. Do not bend … for sure what is left of our democracy will be gone.” She also criticized what she sees as Trump’s efforts to demean political opponents.
Omar, in turn, accused Trump of fabricating his Somalia claim. She responded via social media, writing, “From denying Somalia had a president to making up a story, President Trump is a lying buffoon.”
Her statement came amid the fallout over a recent House vote to censure Omar for controversial remarks tied to the killing of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. The censure effort failed by a 214-213 margin.
Trump’s remarks continue a long pattern of targeting progressive lawmakers, especially women of color. Observers say his language often appeals to his base and further intensifies polarization.
House Republicans had previously sought to censure Omar after her comments following Kirk’s assassination. That resolution also attempted to remove her from committee assignments.