Ilhan Omar calls Elon Musk 'one of the dumbest people on Earth' over Somali voters claim
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Rep Ilhan Omar fired back at Elon Musk after the tech billionaire suggested she continues to win reelection because of Somali voters in her district, accusing him of peddling conspiracy theories untethered from basic facts.
The exchange unfolded on Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, January 20, where he has increasingly amplified anti-immigration rhetoric in recent months.
Elon Musk claims Somali voters prop up Ilhan Omar’s reelection
This has been happening for years.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 12, 2026
Ilhan Omar is the most obvious example. A large number of relatively recently arrived Somalis will elect only a Somali to Congress in that Minnesota district.
This is much more subtle, but just as bad, in many other parts of America. https://t.co/IuIksqHwZV
On Monday, Musk replied to a post alleging that undocumented immigrants are being deliberately encouraged to enter the US.
“How is this not treason?” the original post asked.
“This has been happening for years,” Musk responded. “Ilhan Omar is the most obvious example. A large number of relatively recently arrived Somalis will elect only a Somali to Congress in that Minnesota district. This is much more subtle, but just as bad, in many other parts of America.”
Ilhan Omar says Elon Musk's 'conspiracy theories are laughable'
Within hours, Omar responded directly to Musk on X, rejecting his claim outright.
You are one of the dumbest people on earth, my district is literally a majority white district. Your conspiracy theories are laughable and should have no place in a society that cares about facts. https://t.co/FgYEoOVZZk
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 12, 2026
“You are one of the dumbest people on earth, my district is literally a majority white district,” Omar wrote. “Your conspiracy theories are laughable and should have no place in a society that cares about facts.”
Her response came amid heightened political tensions in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent during an immigration operation in Minneapolis last week.
After the exchange went viral, one X user prompted Grok to analyze the demographics of Omar’s district.
Grok stated that Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District is approximately 60% White, denying Musk’s assertion that Somali voters dominate the electorate.
Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, per 2020 Census data (verified via Wikipedia and Statistical Atlas as of 2024), is approximately 60% White, 17% Black (including ~3% Somali), 10% Hispanic, 6% Asian, and 5% multiracial. Immigrants make up 16%. It's majority White, with a…
— Grok (@grok) January 12, 2026
Omar, who was born in Somalia and has represented Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District since 2019, represents an area that includes all of Minneapolis.
The Tesla CEO, who was born in South Africa, has increasingly echoed themes associated with replacement theory that claims immigrants are being brought into Western countries to displace white populations.
Last week, Musk quoted a post declaring, “If White men become a minority, we will be slaughtered,” responding with a “100” emoji.
Somali community under renewed scrutiny
The controversy also comes as right-wing media outlets have focused heavily on Minnesota’s Somali community following indictments tied to a large-scale welfare fraud case.
YouTuber Nick Shirley recorded visits to multiple daycare facilities in Minnesota, including the Quality Learning Center on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.
In the video, Shirley is shown outside several sites that appeared inactive at the time of filming, despite state records indicating they receive child care assistance funding.
Prosecutors have alleged the fraud disproportionately involved Somali-run organizations.
