President Donald Trump called on Representative Ilhan Omar to resign, reviving unsubstantiated allegations about her identity and a past marriage involving a man he claims was her brother.
Speaking about Somalia, where Omar was born, Trump used a vulgar description of the country and questioned her authority to comment on how the United States should be governed.
Trump made the remarks at a Republican campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, where he appeared alongside Senate candidate Mike Collins and gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson.
“It was just revealed that Ilhan Omar’s name is not Ilhan Omar,” Trump told supporters.
He alleged that Omar had used another name when she was elected and sworn into Congress, then connected that claim to longstanding, disputed allegations that she married her brother.
The allegations resurfaced after the Justice Department identified Omar in court documents tied to a federal search of her Washington, D.C., residence as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi.” The reference prompted renewed discussion of claims about the Minnesota Democrat’s identity.
Omar has repeatedly denied the allegations and said her legal name is Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.
Trump also mentioned Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, Omar’s former husband, asserting that the name matched the name of her alleged brother.
Trump jokingly told supporters to inform House Speaker James Michael Johnson that Democrats had “conceded” Representative Ilhan Omar’s seat
Trump cited the name Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, which appeared in recent Justice Department documents connected to an investigation involving Omar
Homeland Security Investigations officers searched Omar’s home on October 12
Trump then ridiculed Omar over an alleged answer she gave when questioned about whether she had married her brother.
“When asked whether or not she was married to her brother, she said, ‘Not to my knowledge,’” Trump said.
He contrasted that reported response with the answer he said he would give if asked whether he had married one of his sisters.
“I said, no. It’s pretty simple, right?” Trump told the crowd.
Trump then broadened his criticism to Somalia, arguing that Omar should not criticize the United States while coming from a country he characterized as deeply troubled.
“She comes from one of the worst countries, maybe the worst country in the world, and she’s telling us how to run our country,” Trump said.
The president accused Omar of using a false name when she took her congressional oath and said she should surrender her seat immediately.
“Because she used a fake name to be sworn in, I assume she must immediately resign from Congress, huh?” he said.
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Trump ended the attack with a mock message to House Speaker Mike Johnson, joking that Democrats had already given up Omar’s seat.
‘The fake news, they say, ‘Oh, he’s so handsome.’ I don’t think so. These people are handsome. That guy’s handsome right there. Our congressmen, they’re all handsome to me,’ President Trump said
Ossoff is seeking another term against Republican Congressman Mike Collins, who has Trump’s backing
In Michigan on Saturday, former President Barack Obama mocked Trump’s lavish White House renovations, saying the president was so focused on home improvements that he ‘should be on HGTV’ and comparing the White House’s new look to ‘Saddam Hussein opened up a Cheesecake Factory’
‘Please inform the Speaker of the House of Representatives, James Michael Johnson, that the Democrat Party has just conceded her seat,’ Trump said.
He went on to claim that Omar had ‘openly admitted to fraud’ and would no longer be legally allowed to serve in Congress.
Trump came out swinging at Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, wasting little time before mocking the Georgia Democrat’s looks and branding his public image a fake.
‘The fake news, they say, ‘Oh, he’s so handsome.’ I don’t think so. These people are handsome. That guy’s handsome right there. Our congressmen, they’re all handsome to me,’ Trump said, gesturing toward Republicans at the event.
He then doubled down on his attack, accusing Ossoff of cultivating a misleading public image before turning his fire on a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan.
‘So Ossoff has a false image. It’s a totally, it’s the most of all false, although, the guy in Michigan is pretty bad, too. Muhammad, as I call him,’ Trump said, referring to Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s Senate race.
The president’s swipe at Ossoff comes as Republicans make the Georgia Senate race a major battleground in their fight to hold control of the chamber.
Ossoff is seeking another term against Republican Congressman Mike Collins, who has Trump’s backing.
The president has repeatedly targeted the incumbent as he campaigns to help Republicans capitalize on the midterm elections.
Trump previously mocked Ossoff at a rally in Dalton, Georgia, on October 16, comparing him to comedian Pee-wee Herman and dismissing claims that the senator was handsome.
The Georgia event came as former President Barack Obama was also on the campaign trail, campaigning for Democrats in Michigan and delivering a series of attacks on Trump and his administration.
Obama appeared alongside El-Sayed and Michigan gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson in Detroit, setting up a weekend of dueling campaign appearances as both parties seek to energize their supporters ahead of Election Day on November 3.
He mocked Trump’s lavish White House renovations, saying the president was so focused on home improvements that he ‘should be on HGTV’ and comparing the White House’s new look to ‘Saddam Hussein opened up a Cheesecake Factory.’
Trump mentioned Obama being in Michigan, and he saw the rally and it appeared empty.
