Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar drew sharp criticism for a message she shared on Twitter in response to the news that businessman Leon Cooperman plans to support billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s potential run for president.
“I wonder why?” Omar tweeted Saturday in response to the news along with a “thinking” emoji.
I wonder why? ð¤ https://t.co/fc2wx26oTA
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 9, 2019
Her response caused many to assert that she linked Cooperman to Bloomberg because both men are Jewish. Omar, a Muslim, has been under fire several times since being elected to Congress for making remarks considered by many to be anti-Semitic, including a February tweet in which she suggested lawmakers supported Israel only for the money.
“Itâs all about the Benjamins baby,” she said of congressional support for Israel.
Among many others, former tennis star Martina Navratilova, who supports President Trump, condemned Omar’s comment, writing, “This is a wrong thing to say Congresswoman…”
This is a wrong thing to say Congresswomanâ¦
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) November 9, 2019
I suppose you think itâs all about the Benjamins? We get your insinuation. True to form. https://t.co/dynXq6HqXN
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) November 9, 2019
Omar very carefully making an anti-Semitic tweet with just enough vagueness to claim that ackshually she meant it was about the benjamins and not about religion.
But everyone knows what she meant, which is why she continues to do it. https://t.co/tBuU3eNxX5
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) November 9, 2019
Omar, 37, has been under criticism for advocating for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel. Both herself and fellow freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib from Michigan were blocked from entering the country earlier this year for their stance on the BDS movement.
Omar, a refugee from Somalia, has consistently denied accusations that she is anti-Semitic. On Saturday night, she reacted to the backlash by simply tweeting, “Yep,” in response to several tweets defending her and calling the criticism the “latest effort to twist” her words.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 10, 2019
