Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is calling for Somali refugee Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) to be expelled from Congress, stripped of her U.S. citizenship, and deported for comments she made in a speech to Somali-Americans in Minneapolis on Saturday. A post has been posted. According to her English translation, she said she was Somali first and that in parliament she represents her native country, Somalia. Omar claims her own comments were not translated correctly.
DeSantis posted a video clip of Omar's speech on Twitter: “Kick her out of Congress, naturalize her, expel her!”
Expel them from parliament, deprive them of their nationality, deport them! https://t.co/UyjEmSSIoQ
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 30, 2024
Omar responded to DeSantis' failure to win the Republican presidential nomination by criticizing him, saying, “Get away from the failure of 2024 and prepare for the failure of 2028.”
Moving on from the failure of 2024 and preparing for the failure of 2028👍🏻 https://t.co/6emZ4xv5jF See More
– Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 30, 2024
Omar claimed her remarks were mistranslated. “Not only is it slanted, it's completely off the mark, 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 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
Omar also reposted the 'corrected' translation:
For those who want an accurate, verbatim translation of what the House of Representatives says. @Ilhan Said, here it is:
[Thecontextis:ShewasaddressingSomali-AmericanvoterswhoweresurprisedthatEthiopianPrimeMinisterAbiyAhmedannouncedhisintentiontosupportaregion/province[맥락은다음과같습니다:그녀는에티오피아총리아비아흐메드(AbiyAhmed)가한지역/지방을지원하겠다는의사를발표한것에놀란소말리아계미국인유권자들에게연설하고있었습니다[Thecontextis:shewasaddressingherSomali-AmericanconstituentswhowerealarmedbyEthiopianPMAbiyAhmed’sannouncementofhisintentiontoassistaregion/provincein…pic.twitter.com/1SOD4GxEnG
— Abdirashid Hashi (@AnalystSomalia) January 29, 2024
Conservative activist Roby Starbuck criticized Omar for trolling Somalis over what they call themselves (Somali or Somali), saying, “Go back to Somalia if that’s where your allegiance lies. Somalis who come legally and practice America First are welcome, but Somalis like you who recognize Somalia First must go back to enjoy the amazing country their ancestors built. It's certainly incredible. right?”
Go back to Somalia if your allegiance lies there. Somalis who come legally and practice America First are welcome, but Somalis like you who recognize Somalia First must go back to enjoy the amazing country their ancestors built. It's certainly incredible. right? pic.twitter.com/vDfgavKb8l
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 30, 2024
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) also said this about Omar's Somali-Somali trolls: “Note: Ilhan Omar married her “Somali” brother to enter a country she hates and is now trying to destroy it from the inside. Patriots, you need to show up big in 2024. “We have a country to save and people to deport.”
NOTE: Ilhan Omar married her “Somali” brother to enter a country she hates and is now working to destroy it from within.
Patriots, you need to show up big in 2024. We have a country to save and people to deport. https://t.co/JTrNZylIWp
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) January 30, 2024
House Majority Leader Tom Emmer (R-MN) on Monday called on Omar to resign from Congress. “Ilhan Omar’s horrible Somalia First comments are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her Constitution. Her oath of office. “She should resign in disgrace.”
Ilhan Omar's horrible Somalia-first remarks are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office. He must resign in disgrace. https://t.co/O3lAEGlokt
— Tom Emmer (@GOPMajorityWhip) January 29, 2024