Ilhan Omar: Trump is distracting from ‘criminal behavior’ by ‘smearing a Muslim woman’

Omar’s comments were in response to Trump slamming Tlaib Monday for saying “tremendous hatred” of Jews.

“Democrat Rep. Tlaib is being slammed for her horrible and highly insensitive statement on the Holocaust. She obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?” Trump said.

Tlaib, a freshman congresswoman who is Muslim, was criticized by the Right for comments she made on the “Skullduggery” podcast, in which she described some of her feelings toward the Holocaust.

“There’s always kind of a calming feeling I tell folks when I think of the Holocaust, and the tragedy of the Holocaust, and the fact that it was my ancestors — Palestinians — who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood, their human dignity, their existence in many ways, have been wiped out, and some people’s passports,” Tlaib said.

“And just all of it was in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews, post-the Holocaust, post-the tragedy, and the horrific persecution of Jews across the world at that time. And I love the fact that it was my ancestors that provided that, right, in many ways. But they did it in a way that took their human dignity away, and it was forced on them,” Tlaib added.

Tlaib hit back at Republicans who said she was downplaying the Holocaust, saying they had taken her words out of context and were attempting to “silence” her.

“Policing my words, twisting & turning them to ignite vile attacks on me will not work. All of you who are trying to silence me will fail miserably. I will never allow you to take my words out of context to push your racist and hateful agenda. The truth will always win.”

In January, Tlaib made comments critics said played on the anti-Semitic dual-loyalty trope.

Omar is no stranger to claims that she is anti-Semitic, either.

In February, Omar apologized for comments she said were anti-Semitic, accusing Jews of paying off U.S. politicians through the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Omar later made comments some interpreted as playing on the anti-Semitic trope of dual loyalty of Jewish Americans at a liberal forum in Washington, D.C. She later doubled down on her comments on Twitter.

“I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee,” Omar said. “I am told everyday that I am anti-American if I am not pro-Israel. I find that to be problematic and I am not alone. I just happen to be willing to speak up on it and open myself to attacks.”

While Omar has apologized for some of her comments, Jewish leaders have said they are skeptical of her sincerity.

Most recently, Omar defended Palestinian terrorists as they rained rockets down on Israel this month.