‘CONSTANT COMPLAINER’: President Trump Turns Up the Heat Against Rep. Ilhan Omar, Claiming the Minnesota Lawmaker “Hates the USA” and Should Be Either Locked Up or Deported
By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com
Washington, D.C. / Minneapolis – January 19, 2026 – In a fiery late-night post on his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump unleashed a scathing attack on Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, labeling her a “constant complainer who hates the USA” and suggesting she should be imprisoned or deported back to Somalia. The remarks, which misspelled Omar’s name as “Illhan,” have reignited long-standing tensions between the president and the Democratic lawmaker, drawing sharp condemnation from critics who accuse Trump of xenophobia, racism, and Islamophobia. This latest salvo comes amid escalating federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, home to one of the largest Somali-American communities in the United States, and follows Omar’s pointed criticism of Trump’s electoral record in her state.
Trump’s post, published Sunday evening, read in part: “Fake ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!” The message appears to be a direct response to Omar’s recent comments highlighting Trump’s repeated failures to win Minnesota in presidential elections—losses in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Omar, a Somali-American refugee who became one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress in 2018, has been a frequent target of Trump’s ire since his first term, often facing attacks laced with references to her immigrant background and faith.
The president’s rhetoric echoes his broader campaign against Somali immigrants, whom he has repeatedly accused of fraud and exploitation of American resources. In recent weeks, Trump has vowed to revoke citizenship and deport naturalized immigrants convicted of defrauding Americans, specifically singling out Somali communities in Minnesota and Maine. “Those who come to America to rob Americans will be jailed and deported,” Trump declared at a rally in North Carolina earlier this month, referencing alleged welfare fraud schemes in Minnesota that he claims have cost taxpayers billions. Federal investigations have uncovered instances of fraud in the state’s Feeding Our Future program, but critics argue Trump’s broad-brush attacks unfairly demonize entire communities.
Omar, representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis, has been vocal in her opposition to Trump’s immigration policies. In a statement released Monday morning, she described the president’s comments as “reprehensible” and a continuation of his “bigoted, xenophobic, Islamophobic, racist rhetoric.” Omar, who fled civil war in Somalia as a child and spent years in a Kenyan refugee camp before resettling in the U.S., has long advocated for immigrant rights. “I am committed to doing all I can to help the over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States come out of the shadows,” she stated, emphasizing her push against Trump’s travel bans and deportation drives.
The feud has intensified amid a surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis, a city that has become a flashpoint in Trump’s second-term immigration crackdown. Last week, protests erupted after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a civilian, during a raid—an incident that followed another shooting involving federal agents. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of detentions, with even Native Americans reportedly stopped on suspicions of being undocumented. Local observers described the operations as a “spectacle of cruelty” aimed at cities defying Trump’s vision of America.
Trump’s history of targeting Omar dates back to 2019, when he infamously told her and other progressive congresswomen of color to “go back” to their countries of origin—a remark widely denounced as racist. During his 2024 campaign, he escalated his language, referring to immigrants as “garbage” and pledging mass deportations. In his second term, these promises have materialized through expanded ICE deployments to “blue cities” like Minneapolis, where Somali Americans form a vibrant community of over 100,000. Trump has accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of enabling fraud, though state officials maintain that investigations are ongoing and not indicative of widespread issues.
Reactions to Trump’s latest outburst have been swift and polarized. Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned the remarks as “dangerous and un-American,” urging unity against divisive rhetoric. Civil rights groups like the ACLU and CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) have called for investigations into potential incitement of violence against Omar, who has faced death threats in the past. On social media, supporters of Trump echoed his sentiments, with some posts declaring Omar “needs to be the very first one deported back to that hell hole of a country Somalia.”
Conversely, Omar’s defenders highlight her contributions to Congress, including her work on foreign affairs, human rights, and economic justice. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, she has pushed for reforms in U.S. policy toward Africa and the Middle East. Supporters argue that Trump’s attacks are a deflection tactic amid challenges in his administration, including ongoing legal battles and economic pressures. “Racism is the only campaign promise Trump has kept,” noted one analysis, pointing to patterns of dehumanizing immigrants and targeting people of color.
The broader implications of this clash extend to the future of U.S. immigration policy and political discourse. With Trump promising the largest deportation operation in American history, communities like Minneapolis’s Somali diaspora are bracing for impact. Local leaders have vowed resistance, with Omar stating that Somalis “will refuse to leave the United States—no matter what President Trump orders.” This standoff underscores deep divisions in the nation, where immigration remains a flashpoint between progressive ideals of inclusion and conservative calls for stricter enforcement.
As protests continue in Minnesota and calls for accountability grow, the White House has yet to provide further comment on the president’s post. Omar, meanwhile, remains defiant, focusing on her legislative agenda while condemning what she calls the administration’s “reckless and deadly actions.” This ongoing feud not only highlights personal animosities but also reflects larger battles over America’s identity in an increasingly diverse society.
Juba Global News Network will continue to monitor developments in this story, including any responses from Congress and potential escalations in immigration enforcement.
This article was updated on January 19, 2026, at 11:15 AM EST to include additional reactions and context from ongoing events.
