Somali refugee Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)'s speech to Minnesota's Somali community on Saturday went viral thanks to English translation subtitles. The translation says Omar is Somali first and Muslim second, without mentioning that she and her fellow Somalis are Americans. Omar also said she represents Somalia in Congress and told her audience that they control the U.S. government's Somalia policy.
Angry Americans demanded that Omar be expelled from the House of Representatives.
Reports of the speech outline the location, but a banner can be seen in the video with the partial date and location: “January 27, 2024…(Ho)tel Minneapolis,” suggesting the speech took place in Minneapolis. indicates. On Saturday; And Omar addressed Minnesotans repeatedly in her speech.
The speech also sparked controversy over Omar's comments about Somali nationalism and her expressed desire to reclaim land from the neighboring country and the Somaliland issue.
“Not only is it slanted, it’s completely off the mark, but I wouldn’t expect any more from these propagandists,” Omar said Sunday in response to the criticism. I pray for them and for their sound mind. No nation-state can survive if its states begin to engage in land lease negotiations with other countries without the consent of the federal government. Somalis and the diaspora in Somalia are united in that effort and I stand in solidarity with them. “No amount of bullying and lies will change that.”
Not only is it slanted, it's completely off, but I wouldn't expect any more from these propagandists. I pray for them and for their sound mind. No nation-state can survive if its states begin to intervene in land lease negotiations with other countries without federal consent… https://t.co/bmdEAN6aUH
– Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 28, 2024
YouTube transcript of the speech excerpt (slightly edited for formatting):
A lot of people call me and ask: Ilhan, talk to the US government. What will the U.S. government do? My answer was that the U.S. government will do whatever we tell it to do. We as Somalis must have that confidence. We live in this country. We pay taxes. This is a country where your daughter is a member of the National Assembly. As long as I am in Congress, no one else will take over Somalia's territorial waters. The United States government will not support others taking what is ours. So don't worry about our beloved Minnesota. You brought your wife to Congress. She knows and feels what you feel. As for President Hassan Sheikh (of Somalia), we are very happy for you. Because of the great work you have done. You have shown Somalis and others that no matter how many problems we have as Somalis, we are a capable people. We are a people who know our country. People who have never existed in history… .(inaudible) people whose country can never be in danger. So I want to congratulate the people of Minnesota and Somalia for coming together (as my uncle said). And that's why you all stood next to our president. Because the president needs all of us to support him.
Somalia is a country for Somali people. Somalia is one. We are all brothers and sisters. Our land cannot be divided. There are other lands we have missed that we will find one day, Insha Allah. But the land we have now won will not be divided. So, thank you to everyone who always respects and welcomes me.
Another version of the speech with English translated subtitles was posted on X Twitter.
In a notable video, Somali-American Rep. Ilhan Omar caught Somali-Americans in Minnesota off guard when she told them that her top mission was to protect Somalia's interests. She continued: We are doing this very thing inside America… pic.twitter.com/JkU5HDSSaZ
— HAGGOOGANE (Hawd & Reserve Region) SST (@HAGGOOGANE) January 28, 2024
Response from Somaliland stakeholders:
Speaking to a crowd of Somalians, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar said, “As Somalis, one day we will go after our lost territory,” referring to Somalia's embargoed areas in Kenya and Ethiopia. Ilhan's father was an officer in Siyad Barre's army and used the same Somali national unityist ideology as hers to justify the Isaaq genocide. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Ethiopian and Kenyan soldiers are helping Somalia fight al-Shabaab, which Somalia cannot fight despite spending billions of dollars in U.S. tax dollars.”
Breaking news 🚨🚨
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar said this while speaking to a crowd in Somalia.
Regarding Somalia's embargoed areas in Kenya and Ethiopia, “As Somalis, one day we will go after our lost territory.”
For your information, Ilhan’s father was a military officer in the Siyad Barre Army… pic.twitter.com/kZmUshca6S
— Abdi Daud #55thState (@thelane) January 28, 2024
Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “We were very surprised and even shocked to discover comments made by Representative Ilhan Omar (D) of Minnesota in a recent public forum. This statement was widely circulated on most social media platforms and is attached below for reference. The language she used was unfortunately inappropriate both for the position she holds and for the constituency she represents. Her expressions lacked common sense and revealed a marked lack of understanding of basic facts on her part. Particularly problematic were her efforts to revive the once violent and dangerous ideology of Greater Somalia, or Somali Weyn. This has caused much death, destruction and conflict in the Horn of Africa. Moreover, her racist rhetoric caught the attention and deep disappointment of many people. This was especially disconcerting to those who recalled similar racist attacks she suffered not long ago, namely that she was “not American enough” and that she took a similar approach and accused the entire #Somaliland nation of “falsely claiming Somali identity”. I was embarrassed to see such criticism. Moreover, her ignorance about the cooperation between the United States and Somaliland in the fight against terrorism and piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Berbera was shocking to say the least. “We hope the House leadership and her caucus take note of her public actions that are unbecoming of a member of the United States House of Representatives or a representative of the honorable House of Representatives she serves.”
We were very surprised, even shocked, to discover recent remarks by Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar (Democrat) in a public forum. This statement was widely circulated on most social media platforms and is attached below for reference.
The language she uses is unfortunately… pic.twitter.com/7Ag9ZafTKY
— Ambassador Rhoda J Elmi (@AmbRhodaJElmi) January 28, 2024
Americans aren't very happy either. Chaya Lajczyk: “Ilhan Omar hates America”
Ilhan Omar hates America. https://t.co/VbQak3gQnK
— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) January 28, 2024
Attorney Marina Medvin said, “U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is telling Somalians that she is the number one Somali, the number two Muslim, and… [no, American wasn’t even mentioned]. Oh, and she said her main mission in Congress was to protect Somalia’s interests.”
U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar tells Somalians she is a Somali first and a Muslim second. [no, American wasn’t even mentioned].
Oh, and she said her main job in Congress is to protect Somalia's interests. pic.twitter.com/ex5IlkAkR2
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) January 28, 2024
Journalist Alessandra Bocchi, “Ilhan Omar's Amazing Speech. She proudly claims that Somalia is for Somalis, that their brotherhood is bound by blood, that Somalis are first, Muslims are second, and that she is using the United States to protect her national interests. In addition to the bloody rhetoric that makes her virtually indistinguishable from the “white supremacists” she opposes in the country she was elected to, she is publicly acknowledging unethical conduct in American public office that amounts to treason.
Ilhan Omar's amazing speech. She proudly claims that Somalia is for Somalis, that their brotherhood is bound by blood, that Somalis are first, Muslims are second, and that she is using the United States to protect her national interests. In addition to the investigation of blood and land… pic.twitter.com/tkFj2R9s9d
— Alessandra Bocchi (@alessandrabocchi) January 28, 2024
Good question: “.@SpeakerJohnson When will Republicans vote to expel Ilhan Omar from Congress? She is a traitor to America. Santos was expelled for less.”
.@Speaker Johnson When will Republicans vote to expel Ilhan Omar from Congress? She is a traitor to America. Santos was expelled for less. https://t.co/vQF7OAn88y
— TikTok's Library (@libsoftiktok) January 29, 2024
Laura Loomer: “.@SpeakerJohnson @MrSantosNY Why are we expelling George Santos from Congress but not expelling this jihadist from Congress? She admitted in the video to working in other jihadist-controlled countries “within the American system.” This is treason.”
How did you guys get deported? @MrSantosNY George Santos of Congress. Why not expel this jihadist from Congress?
She admitted in the video to working in other jihadist-controlled countries “within the American system.”
This… https://t.co/wNKeUSjfOj
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) January 29, 2024