Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday leaked footage of the far-left Democratic lawmaker giving a speech that accused “Squad” member Ilhan Omar of putting Somalia’s interests ahead of U.S. interests. He said he should be expelled from both Congress and the United States for what he did.
“Oject from Congress, degenerate and deport!” the former 2024 Republican presidential candidate wrote on X next to a clip of Omar’s remarks.
The latest controversy involving Minnesota lawmakers came Saturday night, when Omar spoke in Somali to a gathering of community leaders at a Minneapolis hotel, criticizing the Ethiopian government’s bid to reach a maritime access agreement with the breakaway republic. It began after he slammed the plan. of Somaliland.
In a translated video of the remarks shared by DeSantis, Omar said, “The U.S. government will only do what the Somalis in the United States tell them to do. They have to follow our orders and that’s how we protect Somalia’s interests.”
“The United States is a country where one of your daughters is a member of Congress representing your interests,” Omar added, referring to herself. “As long as I am in the U.S. Congress, Somalia will never be in danger and its water will never be stolen by Ethiopia or any other country…I am here to protect Somalia’s interests from within the U.S. system. Sleep peacefully knowing that you are in safe hands.”
Omar, 41, also went on a tirade against the governments of Ethiopia and Kenya, accusing them of “stealing” territory from neighboring countries and, according to translations, “liberating occupied territories” in Djibouti, Somaliland and northern Kenya. “I will.”Eastern Province is home to many ethnic Somalis and Somali refugees.
The lawmaker claimed his remarks had been misinterpreted after he was accused of “ethnic slurs” by Somaliland’s deputy foreign minister.
“It’s not only slanted, it’s completely off base, but I don’t expect anything less from these propagandists. I pray for them and for their sanity,” Omar said. answered.
“Somalia and Somalis in the diaspora are united in that effort and I stand in solidarity with them. No amount of harassment or lies will ever change that.”
In another translation shared by the lawmaker, she is reported to have said:“We are sisters and brothers, we support each other, we are people who know we are Somalis and Muslims, and we come to each other’s aid and help our brothers and sisters.”
“The U.S. government will do what we ask,” she said. “We live in this country. We are taxpayers in this country.”
Omar also said that while he is in Congress, “no one is going to take away Somalia’s seas,” and that the United States “will not support others to take us away.”
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, as the East African country descended into civil war. It is not officially recognized by United Nations member states or international organizations.
Omar, the first Somali-American congressman, was born in Mogadishu, immigrated to the United States and became a citizen in 2000.
She is one of two Muslim women in the House of Representatives, along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
House Minority Leader Tom Emmer, a fellow Minnesotan, said Monday that Omar should “resign in shame” over her “appalling Somalia-first comments.” “It’s a slap in the face and a defamation of the Minnesotans she was elected to serve.” She is in direct violation of her oath of office. ”
In response to Mr. DeSantis: Omar rebuked On Tuesday, the 45-year-old said:[m]We’ve moved on from the failures of 2024 and are preparing for the failures of 2028. ”
Representatives for Mr. Omar did not respond to requests for comment.
