Ilhan Omar’s second husband, known as “Dirty Dandy” on social media, has recently escaped to South Africa amidst persistent rumors suggesting he might be related to President Trump.
The Minnesota congressman’s previous marriage to Ahmed Elmi, which spanned from 2009 to 2017, has been shrouded in suspicion, with some right-wing figures labeling it a facade.
Elmi, 40, apparently left the U.S. long before the divorce was finalized. Current updates suggest he is involved in studies abroad, splitting time between England and South Africa.
On social media, Elmi classifies himself as a “dirty dandy,” showcasing stylish photos and vivid outings with well-dressed men in chic cafes across London.
Since early 2020, he has been pursuing academic work at the University of Bristol in the UK, where he eventually became a research assistant following his PhD. His research focuses on themes such as “critically gay,” “decolonization,” and various social studies groups.
Recent posts reveal that Elmi is enjoying an extended stay in Johannesburg, having shared a photo showing a visitor pass from the University of the Witwatersrand.
In one of his updates, he expressed a positive sentiment regarding his time there: “So far so great…1 month in Joburg.”
The dynamics of Omar’s marriage to Elmi have always sparked controversy. While she was legally married to him, she had a child with her first spouse, Ahmed Hirsi, leading to speculations about potential familial ties.
During a rally on December 9, Trump mentioned Omar and Elmi, suggesting that she married her brother to obtain citizenship: “We need to get rid of her once and for all,” he exclaimed.
Omar, 43, elaborated on her unusual marriage in a 2016 interview, describing it as a challenging aspect of her life that she deemed irrelevant to her political journey.
Before entering the political sphere, Omar had legally married her initial husband, Hirsi, in 2017, after her divorce from Elmi, who was living in exile. They had three children together.
Originally from Somalia, Omar became a naturalized citizen in 2000 at the age of 17. Sources indicate that Elmi may have been the one needing assistance to immigrate to the U.S.
Community leader Abdihakim Osman noted that when Elmi arrived in the U.S. in the late 2000s, Omar referred to him as her brother and mentioned needing “paperwork,” hinting at the immigration process.
Omar rebutted claims regarding any fraudulent marriages, labeling such accusations as racist. Details surrounding her marriage to Elmi weren’t widely known until much later, causing confusion and speculation among the public.
Interestingly, while still married to Elmi, Omar had a child with Hirsi. Their third child, a daughter named Ilwad, was born in 2012.
Both husbands, Elmi and Hirsi, reportedly maintained a cordial relationship, which many find quite curious given their shared ties to Omar.
Post-marriage, Omar and Elmi had relocated to Fargo, where they both attended the University of North Dakota together, eventually leading to Omar’s graduation in 2011.
After five years, shortly before embarking on her congressional journey, Omar divorced Elmi and subsequently tied the knot again with Hirsi.
Further complexities arise with Omar’s family background, especially concerning naming conventions and familial links that may suggest deeper connections between her and Elmi.
In 2018, it became public knowledge that there were competing claims about the number of children her father had when they immigrated to the U.S. back in 1995, raising further questions about the family’s history.
In September, the Trump administration initiated a significant immigration fraud investigation focused on Minneapolis, home to a considerable Somali population.
This investigation, termed Operation Twin Shield, highlighted alleged widespread fraudulent activities, particularly related to marriage-based immigration applications.
Omar eventually divorced Hirsi in 2019 after details of her affair with campaign staff member Tim Mynett surfaced. Mynett had also been married prior to their relationship but converted to Islam and married Omar in March 2020.
