Ilhan Omar responds after Trump says she had 'herself sprayed' at town hall attack

WASHINGTON, DC: Minnesota Rep Ilhan Omar fired back after President Donald Trump accused her of staging an attack at a recent town hall.

The president's accusation followed a January 27 event in Minneapolis, where a man assaulted Omar by spraying her with an unknown substance (later found to be vinegar). Trump questioned the seriousness of the incident, saying Omar “probably had herself sprayed.” 

Ilhan Omar bashes Trump, calls his administration 'liars'

During Omar's appearance on CNN’s 'The Source with Kaitlan Collins' on Wednesday, January 28, the host asked her about Trump’s claim.

Omar said, “The difference between the president and I is that I was raised to be a decent human being and my faith teaches me to have compassion, and he lacks both of those things."

The Minnesota Democrat was drawing the contrast in reference to how she had responded to Trump’s near‑assassination incident at his July 2024 rally ahead of the presidential elections.

Collins had brought up Omar's X post from 2024.

Following the assassination attempt, Omar had posted on X calling for condemnation of the act of violence. She had deemed the incident a "tragedy".

Omar further insinuated that Trump was lying about her having staged the attack. 

During the CNN interview, she highlighted the history of lying that the Trump administration has allegedly shown as proof.

Omar said the administration “known to be liars” who have asked people not to believe in their eyes.

She listed examples of the administration's alleged lying, bringing up how officials called Renee Nicole Good “a domestic terrorist” after she was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis on January 7.

She added that officials made a similar claim about Alex Pretti after he was fatally shot by federal officers in Minneapolis on January 24.

Omar said that “fortunately” both shootings were captured on video, which she said revealed what really happened.

She then linked it to the attack she faced, saying "what happened to me was caught on camera" as well.

Ilhan Omar attacked at town hall

While speaking at a town hall on January 27, Omar called for ending ICE and for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or be impeached.

During that speech, a man in the front row suddenly ran toward her and sprayed her shirt with a liquid from a syringe, according to video of the incident.

Security quickly tackled him and he was arrested on suspicion of third‑degree assault. Several people nearby shouted in concern as the man was restrained.

 Addressing the crowd afterward, Omar said, “Here’s the reality that people like this ugly man don’t understand. We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”

In remarks to reporters and in media interviews, Omar stated that she would not be in her current security situation, paying for protection and having the government consider providing her with security, if Trump were not in office and “so obsessed with me.”

After the attack, Trump said he had not seen any video of the incident but suggested that Omar might have staged it.

He said, “I don't think about her. I think she's a fraud. She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her."