It seems she might have mixed up some facts.
Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) attempted to criticize the U.S. on X, but it didn’t quite go as planned. Instead, she garnered criticism for spreading misinformation.
“Iraq was attacked by the U.S. during Ramadan, and now it’s appalling to see them hinting at another attack on Iran during the same holy month,” she exclaimed as tensions rose regarding a possible U.S. strike on Iran.
Omar claimed, “The United States seems to prefer attacking Islamic nations during Ramadan. This isn’t about international law—it’s about who they worship.” She was trying to frame the Iraq war as a reflection of bias against Muslims.
However, many quickly pointed out that the U.S. invasion of Iraq under President George W. Bush actually started on March 20, 2003—seven months before Ramadan that year.
Likewise, George H.W. Bush’s Operation Desert Storm against Iraq commenced on January 17, 1991, two months prior to Ramadan, ultimately helping to liberate Kuwait.
“The claim that the U.S. ‘chose Ramadan to attack Muslims’ is not a point of advocacy, but rather a deliberate falsehood meant to incite anger and division among Americans,” criticized Dalia Al Aqidi, a Muslim Iraqi-American running against Omar for a House seat.
This isn’t the first instance where lawmakers from Minnesota have strayed from the truth.
Earlier this year, when confronted about $9 billion in welfare fraud in her district, Omar confused federal funding figures with the amount tied to investigations about her own alleged misconduct over several years.
“So, you think that half of the necessary resources for public services might just vanish? Please, listen to what you’re saying,” she responded to a reporter.
Last fall, on TikTok, when asked about her family’s rapid asset increase from nearly nothing to $30 million in a year, she asserted that journalists misunderstood financial disclosures. She argued that the valuation of her husband’s business was the overall company’s worth, not just his share—even though that’s not how such forms are typically interpreted.
“Maybe learn to read before sharing misleading articles,” she retorted angrily.
Omar’s latest comments came on Friday after the State Department instructed U.S. embassy personnel in Israel to evacuate while commercial flights were still available, alluding to potential airstrikes or responses from Iran.
Earlier this week, staff from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut were also withdrawn amid increasing tensions.
In addition, President Trump has redirected more military forces to the Middle East, following unsuccessful discussions regarding a nuclear deal with Iranian leaders in Geneva on Thursday.
