Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is facing renewed criticism after comments resurfaced in which she called for the profiling and monitoring of white men in the United States.
In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Omar dismissed fears about jihadist terrorism and pointed to what she sees as a more urgent domestic threat. “I would say our country should be more fearful of white men across our country because they are actually causing most of the deaths within this country,” she said. “And so if fear was the driving force of policies to keep America safe, Americans safe inside of this country, we should be profiling, monitoring, and creating policies to fight the radicalisation of white men.”
The remarks, originally made in 2018, were once again shared by Laura Loomer, a Conservative activist. Loomer reignited the debate by posting the clip of Omar’s earlier remarks. “Ilhan Omar, a jihadist member of Congress who has documented ties to HAMAS, the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS, says jihadists aren’t a threat and we should instead be creating policies and databases here in the US to ‘profile white men’, who she says are the biggest terror threat,” she wrote.
During the interview she was also asked about President Donald Trump's role in the rise of far-right and anti-Muslim hate groups, Omar said she would stop short of holding him “exclusively responsible.” She added, “I think when you ... demonise and dehumanise, it is easy for people to commit acts of violence against those individuals because they no longer see them as a person, as someone who has feelings, who’s worthy of respect. We are moving away from this idea that we are supposed to be a welcoming nation.”
The resurfaced video comes as Omar was also under fire for her expletive-laden response to a reporter in Washington. When asked whether more Democrats should visit El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a man deported by the Trump administration and alleged by US authorities to be affiliated with MS-13—Omar lashed out. “I think you should f**k off,” she said. When the reporter asked who she meant, she replied: “You.”
Omar later defended the exchange on X, writing: “I said what I said. You and all you miserable trolls can f*ck off.”
The backlash was swift on social media. One user commented, “Trump has said a lot of things to reporters but I don't recall 'F*ck Off' being one. Hats off to Ilhan Omar for a new low.” Another said, “Ilhan Omar’s behaviour is a disgrace to Congress. @SpeakerJohnson do you only censure those who exhibit behaviour that is unbecoming to the position on national television?”
In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Omar dismissed fears about jihadist terrorism and pointed to what she sees as a more urgent domestic threat. “I would say our country should be more fearful of white men across our country because they are actually causing most of the deaths within this country,” she said. “And so if fear was the driving force of policies to keep America safe, Americans safe inside of this country, we should be profiling, monitoring, and creating policies to fight the radicalisation of white men.”
Ilhan Omar, a jihadist member of Congress who has documented ties to HAMAS, the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS says jihadists aren’t a threat and we should instead be creating policies and databases here in the US to “profile white men”, who she says are the biggest terror threat. pic.twitter.com/ofRbqbWMRH
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 4, 2025
The remarks, originally made in 2018, were once again shared by Laura Loomer, a Conservative activist. Loomer reignited the debate by posting the clip of Omar’s earlier remarks. “Ilhan Omar, a jihadist member of Congress who has documented ties to HAMAS, the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS, says jihadists aren’t a threat and we should instead be creating policies and databases here in the US to ‘profile white men’, who she says are the biggest terror threat,” she wrote.
During the interview she was also asked about President Donald Trump's role in the rise of far-right and anti-Muslim hate groups, Omar said she would stop short of holding him “exclusively responsible.” She added, “I think when you ... demonise and dehumanise, it is easy for people to commit acts of violence against those individuals because they no longer see them as a person, as someone who has feelings, who’s worthy of respect. We are moving away from this idea that we are supposed to be a welcoming nation.”
The resurfaced video comes as Omar was also under fire for her expletive-laden response to a reporter in Washington. When asked whether more Democrats should visit El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a man deported by the Trump administration and alleged by US authorities to be affiliated with MS-13—Omar lashed out. “I think you should f**k off,” she said. When the reporter asked who she meant, she replied: “You.”
Omar later defended the exchange on X, writing: “I said what I said. You and all you miserable trolls can f*ck off.”
The backlash was swift on social media. One user commented, “Trump has said a lot of things to reporters but I don't recall 'F*ck Off' being one. Hats off to Ilhan Omar for a new low.” Another said, “Ilhan Omar’s behaviour is a disgrace to Congress. @SpeakerJohnson do you only censure those who exhibit behaviour that is unbecoming to the position on national television?”
You may also like
'Only sought Bahadur Shah Zafar's house': Mughal emperor's 'heir' Sultana Begum after SC rejects plea for Red Fort ownership
KIYG 2025: Maharashtra's Aditi Hegde bags gold, Karnataka swimmers claim four titles
TN Fisheries Dept steps up coastal patrols to tackle illegal fishing amid 61-day ban period
Biggest blow yet to Keir Starmer that means his days as PM are numbered
Do you think Prince Harry and the Royal Family will ever heal their rift? Vote now