Ilhan Omar slams Trump’s rhetoric for fueling ‘right-wing grifters’ to harm the Somali community

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Rep. Ilhan Omar held a press conference at Karmel Mall in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 29, to address the impact of ICE activity on local businesses, after spending the day touring the mall and speaking with small business owners.

The press conference came one day after Omar was charged at and sprayed with an unknown substance by a man during her first in-person town hall of the year. The suspect was restrained and later charged with third-degree assault. Omar was not seriously injured.

Ilhan Omar addresses ICE impact on Somali businesses

At the press conference, Omar praised the Somali community for its efforts in building businesses and entrepreneurship.

“I wanted to hold this press conference at Karmel Mall to highlight our incredible Somali businesses housed here,” Omar said. “We have extraordinary entrepreneurs who have built amazing businesses.”

She said community members are afraid to go out “as a result of the occupation in our city by ICE.”

Omar claimed President Donald Trump’s rhetoric is harming small businesses, adding, “Not only is the federal occupation hurting businesses, the president’s reprehensible rhetoric has led right-wing grifters to show up here to terrorize our community. It is indefensible.”

She stressed that “hurting small businesses is just the tip of the iceberg.” Referring to the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge,” Omar said “constitutional rights are being trampled, families are being ripped apart, and fear is being weaponized to try to beat us into submission.”

Omar added, “But we know this is not about public safety or immigration enforcement. It is state-sanctioned violence and political retribution. What is unfolding in our state is not accidental.”

She described the actions as discriminatory, saying, “It is part of a coordinated effort to target Black and Brown immigrant and Muslim communities through fear, racial profiling, and intimidation.”

Omar argued the administration’s immigration agenda is not rooted in law enforcement, but instead is meant to make people feel they do not belong, regardless of their citizenship status or the law.

Ilhan Omar assaulted at town hall, calls for accountability

The press conference followed an incident the previous night in which Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance by a man who charged at her while she was speaking at a town hall in Minneapolis. Omar was immediately pulled away by her security, and the man was tackled and restrained.

“We will continue. These fking aholes are not going to get away with this,” Omar shouted as the room reacted. “It smells terrible,” a member of her entourage said, urging her to stop and get checked out.

The Minneapolis Police Department identified the suspect as Anthony James Kazmierczak. The incident occurred as Omar was speaking about immigration policy and had just called for a transparent investigation and legal action against ICE, followed by the abolition of the agency.

“We must abolish ICE for good,” Omar said, adding that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign or “face impeachment.”

After briefly stepping back, Omar returned to address the packed room.

“We’re going to keep talking,” she said, insisting she be allowed to continue for at least 10 minutes. “We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”

Omar then reiterated her calls for accountability within the Department of Homeland Security following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Omar later wrote on X that she was unharmed and would not be intimidated, thanking her constituents for rallying behind her.