A newly surfaced 2018 interview clip of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a prominent member of the progressive “Squad,” has ignited controversy online yet again. Omar says in the video that Americans should be “more fearful of White men” due to their role in domestic violence and terrorism—comments that are now receiving fierce criticism from conservatives, including those in the White House.
“Our country should be more fearful of White men… because they are actually doing most of the killings in this country,” Omar said in an interview with Al-Jazeera. She added that if policy was based on fear, the government would be “profiling and monitoring” white men for radicalization.
The remarks, described as racially inflammatory and factually misleading by critics, were viral after being posted by right-wing influencers like Laura Loomer and Libs of TikTok. Outrage was swift:
“This isn’t just sick—it’s genocidal language,” Vice President JD Vance tweeted on X.
“This is blatant racism,” Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) tweeted.
“Ilhan Omar never stops being an embarrassment for Minnesota,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) tweeted.
“There’s never been a more anti-American member of Congress,” said conservative commentator Paul Szypula.
Omar’s office responded by referring Fox News Digital to a recent post on her X account defending her comments. She stated she was referencing a report from the Anti-Defamation League, which concluded white supremacists were responsible for 78% of extremist-related murders at the time.
“PS: You may want to check the meaning of ‘genocidal’ when you are actively calling for a genocide that is currently taking place in Gaza,” Omar tweeted—referring to Israel’s war with Hamas following the October 2023 attacks that left over 1,300 Israelis dead and hundreds were kidnapped.
The scandal also revived long-standing criticism of Omar’s past statements and actions, particularly regarding immigration and Israel. GOP Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) reignited calls for Omar to be deported, citing a video in which she allegedly provides advice to Somali immigrants—possibly undocumented—on how to avoid deportation by ICE.
“America would be a better place if Ilhan Omar were deported back to Somalia,” Gill tweeted, calling her actions “anti-American.
Gill’s office answered media inquiries by saying: “Representative Omar’s actions raise questions about where her loyalty lies—to the American people or to illegal aliens from Somalia.”
Omar has been the subject of long-standing, unsubstantiated claims of immigration fraud, though no action or official proof has been taken.
As calls for accountability grow louder, Omar is a lightning rod on Capitol Hill—lionized by supporters for speaking up on behalf of marginalized groups, and roundly denounced by detractors who see her as uncompromisingly hostile to American values.
