Fact Check: Did Ilhan Omar say 'white men should be put in chains as slaves'?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Amid the alleged immigration fraud probe against Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, an allegation began circulating on social media platforms claiming that she called for the enslavement of white men, stating that they should be put in chains. The claim has sparked criticism, while a few others have called for a fact-check.
Claim: Ilhan Omar said 'white men should be put in chains'
The claim appeared as a post on X, according to which the Somali-born Democrat spoke about putting white men “in chains as slaves.”
The post came with an image of Omar, accompanied by a quote attributed to her, stating, “I am America's hope and the president's nightmare. I think all white men should be put in chains as slaves because they will never submit to Islam." Text on the image calls these "her own Twitter words."
The quote has spread on multiple social media platforms and has been shared by several accounts, collectively garnering hundreds of thousands of views as of this writing.
The claim has triggered a backlash against the congresswoman, with many accusing her of racism, while a few others remained skeptical and called for verification of the quote.
Fact Check: Ilhan Omar never made such a statement
The claim, however, is false, as there is no evidence of Omar calling for the enslavement of white men.
Although the first sentence is accurate, as Omar did call herself "America's hope and the president's nightmare" in reference to Trump during an appearance on 'The Daily Show' with Trevor Noah, there are no reports of her stating that white men should be put in chains.
A look at the episode posted on YouTube in November 2018 does not include any remark by her stating anything about white men.
In an email to Reuters, Omar’s press team clarified, “She never said that.” Omar also addressed the quote on X when they appeared in 2018, stating, “Who said facts mattered?”
Donald Trump calls for Ilhan Omar's resignation
The quote resurfaced after President Donald Trump called for Omar’s resignation after a federal court filing identified the Minnesota lawmaker as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.”
“It was just revealed just a little while ago that … her name is not Ilhan Omar, the one that she used to get elected and sworn into Congress,” Trump said on Thursday, October 22. “She used a fake name to be sworn in. I assume she must immediately have to resign from Congress.”
