Challenges in the Life of Ilhan Omar in a Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Ilhan Omar's life and career.

Ilhan Omar is a prominent American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2019. As a member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives (2017-2019), representing a portion of Minneapolis. Her congressional district encompasses all of Minneapolis and some of its adjacent suburbs. Omar is known for her progressive political views and advocacy on various social and economic issues, making her a notable figure in contemporary American politics.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1982: Elliott Abrams' doubts about deaths in El Mozote massacre

In 1982, Elliott Abrams, later questioned by Ilhan Omar in 2019 regarding his appointment as Special Representative for Venezuela, initially doubted the number of reported deaths in the El Mozote massacre in El Salvador.

1991: Elliott Abrams convicted for withholding information from Congress

In 1991, Elliott Abrams, later questioned by Ilhan Omar in 2019 regarding his appointment as Special Representative for Venezuela, faced two misdemeanor convictions for withholding information from Congress about the Iran–Contra affair, for which he was later pardoned by George H. W. Bush.

February 4, 2014: Attacked and injured at DFL caucus

On February 4, 2014, Ilhan Omar, who was organizing the event as a policy aide to Minneapolis City Councilman Andrew Johnson, was attacked and injured by multiple attendees during a DFL caucus for Minnesota's House of Representatives District 60B. She sustained a concussion and was hospitalized.

February 2014: Attacked at precinct caucus

In February 2014, Ilhan Omar was attacked and injured by five people during a contentious precinct caucus.

2018: Prime target of online hate speech during midterm elections

According to a 2018 study by the Social Science Research Council of more than 113,000 tweets about Muslim candidates in the weeks leading up to the 2018 midterm elections, Ilhan Omar "was the prime target. Roughly half of the 90,000 tweets mentioning her included hate speech or Islamophobic or anti-immigrant language."

2018: Accusations of campaign finance violations

In 2018, Republican state representative Steve Drazkowski publicly accused Ilhan Omar of campaign finance violations.

January 2019: Denounced Trump administration's recognition of Juan Guaidó as Venezuelan interim president

In January 2019, amid the Venezuelan presidential crisis, Ilhan Omar, along with Democrats Ro Khanna and Tulsi Gabbard, denounced the Trump administration's decision to recognize Juan Guaidó, the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, as Venezuela's interim president. She described Trump's action as a "U.S. backed coup" and said that the U.S. should not "hand pick" foreign leaders and should support "Mexico, Uruguay & the Vatican's efforts to facilitate a peaceful dialogue."

February 2019: Questioned Elliott Abrams' appointment as Special Representative for Venezuela

In February 2019, Ilhan Omar questioned whether Elliott Abrams, whom Trump appointed as Special Representative for Venezuela in January 2019, was the correct choice given his past support of right-wing authoritarian regimes in El Salvador and Guatemala, his initial doubts about the number of reported deaths in the El Mozote massacre in 1982, and his two 1991 misdemeanor convictions for withholding information from Congress about the Iran–Contra affair, for which he was later pardoned by George H. W. Bush.

February 2019: FBI arrested man plotting to assassinate Omar

In February 2019, the FBI arrested United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Christopher Paul Hasson, who was allegedly plotting to assassinate various journalists and political figures in the United States, including Ilhan Omar. According to prosecutors, Hasson is a self-described "long time White Nationalist" and former skinhead who wanted to use violence to "establish a white homeland." Prosecutors also alleged that Hasson was in contact with an American neo-Nazi leader, stockpiled weapons, and compiled a hit list.

April 7, 2019: Patrick Carlineo Jr. arrested for threatening Omar

On April 7, 2019, Patrick Carlineo Jr., was arrested for threatening to assault and murder Ilhan Omar in a phone call to her office. He reportedly told investigators that he did not want Muslims in the government.

April 11, 2019: New York Post ran controversial cover about Omar and 9/11

On April 11, 2019, the front page of the New York Post featured an image of the World Trade Center burning following the September 11 terrorist attacks and a quotation from a speech Ilhan Omar gave the previous month. The headline read, "REP. ILHAN OMAR: 9/11 WAS 'SOME PEOPLE DID SOMETHING'", and a caption underneath added, "Here's your something ... 2,977 people dead by terrorism."

April 2019: Received more death threats after Trump's comments about her and 9/11

In April 2019, Ilhan Omar said that she had received more death threats after then-President Trump made comments about her and 9/11, "many directly referencing or replying to the president's video".

May 2019: Introduced legislation to sanction Brunei over anti-LGBTQ+ law

In May 2019, Ilhan Omar introduced legislation aimed at sanctioning Brunei in response to a recently enacted law that imposed the death penalty for homosexual sex and adultery.

May 2019: Said U.S. foreign policy contributes to devastation in Venezuela

In May 2019, Ilhan Omar stated in an interview on Democracy Now! that she believed U.S. foreign policy and economic sanctions are aimed at regime change and have contributed to the "devastation in Venezuela".

May 2019: Patrick Carlineo Jr. released on house arrest

In May 2019, Patrick Carlineo Jr., who was arrested for threatening Ilhan Omar, was released from custody and placed on house arrest.

June 2019: Campaign finance officials ruling

In June 2019, Minnesota campaign finance officials ruled that Ilhan Omar had to pay back $3,500 for out-of-state travel and tax filing violations, plus a $500 fine.

July 14, 2019: Trump tweeted that "The Squad" should "go back" to the "places from which they came"

On July 14, 2019, then-President Trump tweeted that The Squad—a group consisting of Ilhan Omar and three other young congresswomen of color—should "go back" to the "places from which they came". In response, Omar said Trump was "stoking white nationalism" because he was "angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda."

August 2019: Ban from Entering Israel

In August 2019, Ilhan Omar and Representative Rashida Tlaib were banned from entering Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the ban to Israeli law preventing entry to those who call for a boycott of Israel. The decision was influenced by their support for BDS and plans to visit Palestine instead of Israel in August 2019.

August 2019: Published anonymous threat received about being shot at Minnesota State Fair

In August 2019, Ilhan Omar published an anonymous threat she had received of being shot at the Minnesota State Fair, saying that such threats were why she now had security protection.

September 2019: Asserted Trump was endangering her life by retweeting false claim

In September 2019, Ilhan Omar asserted that then-President Trump was putting her life in danger by retweeting a tweet falsely claiming she had "partied on the anniversary of 9/11".

November 2019: Danielle Stella banned from Twitter for suggesting Omar be hanged for treason

In November 2019, Danielle Stella, Ilhan Omar's Republican opponent for Congress, was banned from Twitter for suggesting that Omar be hanged for treason if found guilty of passing information to Iran.

December 2019: George Buck suggested Omar be hanged for treason

In December 2019, George Buck, another Republican running for Congress, also suggested that Ilhan Omar be hanged for treason. As a result, Buck was removed from the National Republican Congressional Committee's Young Guns program.

2019: Signed letter to President Trump to limit military force without congressional approval.

In 2019, Ilhan Omar, along with Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Rand Paul, signed a letter addressed to President Trump. The letter asserted that it was "long past time to rein in the use of force that goes beyond congressional authorization" and expressed hope that this would "serve as a model for ending hostilities in the future—in particular, as you and your administration seek a political solution to our involvement in Afghanistan."

May 2020: Signed AIPAC-backed letter calling for continuation of UN embargo against Iran

In May 2020, Ilhan Omar signed a letter supported by AIPAC advocating for the continuation of the UN embargo against Iran. Her office clarified that it was a "narrow ask that we couldn't find anything wrong with," emphasizing her long-standing opposition to human rights abuses and that signing the letter should not be interpreted as endorsing the Trump administration's policy on Iran.

June 2020: Supported the police abolition movement in Minneapolis

In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Ilhan Omar supported the police abolition movement in Minneapolis, which sought to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department, stating that the department had "proven themselves beyond reform." Omar hoped to see a new police department that would be modeled after the Camden County Police Department in New Jersey.

November 2021: Lauren Boebert made anti-Muslim comments about Omar

In November 2021, Republican Representative Lauren Boebert said she had shared an elevator with Ilhan Omar, and that she and a Capitol Police officer both mistook Omar for a terrorist. Boebert referred to Omar as the "Jihad Squad". Omar said that she had not shared an elevator with Boebert, that the story was made up, and that Boebert's comments were "anti-Muslim bigotry".

July 19, 2022: Arrest for Civil Disobedience

On July 19, 2022, Ilhan Omar, along with 17 other members of Congress, were arrested for engaging in civil disobedience. They were protesting for reproductive rights outside the Supreme Court Building following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The arrest occurred after they refused to clear a street during the demonstration on July 19, 2022.

February 2, 2023: Removal from House Foreign Affairs Committee

On February 2, 2023, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a resolution to remove Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This decision was based on what Speaker Kevin McCarthy called "repeated antisemitic and anti-American remarks", leading to a party-line vote on February 2, 2023.

February 2023: Removed from Foreign Affairs Committee

In February 2023, the Republican-controlled House voted to remove Ilhan Omar from her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, citing past comments she had made about Israel and concerns over her objectivity.

July 6, 2023: Opposed providing cluster munitions to Ukraine

On July 6, 2023, President Biden authorized the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, and Ilhan Omar opposed this decision. Omar stated, "We can support the people of Ukraine in their freedom struggle while also opposing violations of international law."

March 2024: Raised First Amendment concerns opposing TikTok ban

In March 2024, Ilhan Omar opposed a bill that would ban the app TikTok if its Chinese owner did not sell, raising First Amendment concerns. She said: "We should create actual standards & regulations around privacy violations across social media companies—not target platforms we don't like."