Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, recently stated that the U.S. should be “fearing more of white people” in light of domestic terrorism threats. While this comment dates back to 2018, it gained renewed attention in May, particularly from Republican circles, including Vice President JD Vance.
In response to the tragic shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., Omar expressed concerns about white men in the context of domestic threats. “I think our country should be more afraid of white men across our country,” she said during an interview with Al Jazeera.
The White House has committed to seeking justice regarding the shooting, aiming to address the rising evils of anti-Semitism.
Omar’s comments emerged while discussing domestic terrorism and what she termed “jihadism.” She suggested that if fear drives policies to keep Americans safe, then it’s crucial to profile and monitor white men to counteract radicalization.
The resurgence of these remarks was fueled by conservative social media influencers sharing footage of her interview, prompting backlash from Republicans, including Vance, who characterized her statements as “massacre language.” He voiced this concern in a post on May 5.
In defense, Omar referred to an Anti-Defamation League report that identified white supremacists as responsible for a significant percentage of extremist-related murders, indicating an increase in white nationalism.
The recent shooting involved two Israeli embassy workers, identified as Jaron Lisinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who were shot after leaving a museum event. Authorities apprehended Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old from Chicago, who reportedly shouted “free and free Palestine” during his arrest.
Omar originally sidestepped questions from journalists regarding the shooting but later expressed her shock on social media. “I was appalled by the fatal shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum last night,” she wrote on X.
Lisinsky, born in Israel and raised in Germany, comes from a mixed heritage family. Milgrim was an American working for the Israeli Embassy.
