Minnesota’s Rep. Ilhan Omar made history in 2018 when she became the first Somali American to be elected to Congress.
She was also the first naturalized citizen born in Africa and the first woman of color to be elected from Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
Her victory thrust her into the spotlight — but that quickly became a double-edged sword.
The 37-year-old mother of three drew praise for fighting to reverse a 181-year ban on headwear in the House, allowing her to wear a hijab for her oath of office.
For a while, Omar was the darling of the Democratic Party but quickly faced criticism from some Democrats and Republicans following a series of episodes in 2019 in which she was accused of making anti-Semitic remarks.
She was forced to apologize in February 2019 for suggesting that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee was buying influence for pro-Israel policies.
“Anti-Semitism is real, and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes,” she said, adding, “we have to always be willing to step and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.”
Despite the apology, Omar hasn’t shied away from letting her opinion be known, which has made her a lightning rod for conservatives.
Omar is one of four “Squad” members. She is joined by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley. Together, the four freshman progressives have championed causes close to them and ticked off President Trump in the process.
Omar and Trump’s most recent war of words took place in September at a rally in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
Trump asked the crowd, “How about Omar of Minnesota? We’re going to win the state of Minnesota because of her, they say. She’s telling us how to run our country. How did you do where you came from? How’s your country doing?”
Omar tweeted back, “Firstly, this is my country & I am a member of the House that impeached you. Secondly, I fled a civil war when I was 8. An 8-year-old doesn’t run a country even though you run our country like one.”
Trump also took a dig at Omar at a rally in Bemidji, Minnesota, when he claimed that former Vice President Joe Biden planned to flood the state with “an influx of refugees from Somalia and from other places all over the planet. That’s what’s happened, and you like Omar a lot, don’t you?”
During the 2020 Democratic primaries, Omar beat her closest opponent, Antone Melton-Meaux, by more than 15 percentage points — virtually sealing her seat for a second term.
Before her 2018 Congressional win, Omar served in Minnesota’s state Legislature.
