Major Controversies Surrounding Ilhan Omar: A Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Ilhan Omar.

Ilhan Omar is an 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 from 2017 to 2019. Her district encompasses Minneapolis and some of its surrounding suburbs. Omar is recognized for her progressive political views and her status as one of the first Somali-American Muslim women elected to Congress.

Sections (5)

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

2012: Omar's tweet about Israel

In 2012, Ilhan Omar tweeted that "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel," which was criticized as drawing on antisemitic tropes.

2014: Joint Tax Filing

In 2014, Omar jointly filed taxes with a man she was not legally married to, which led to some legal issues.

2015: Joint Tax Filing

In 2015, Omar jointly filed taxes with a man she was not legally married to, which led to some legal issues.

October 2018: Omar criticizes Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses

In October 2018, Ilhan Omar criticized Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses and the Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war, calling for a boycott of the Saudi regime using the hashtag '#BDSSaudi.' The Saudi Arabian government responded with critical tweets from anonymous troll accounts.

2018: Criticism of Omar's statements about Israel

In 2018, Ilhan Omar faced criticism for statements she made about Israel before she was in the Minnesota legislature, particularly her 2012 tweet, which was seen as drawing on antisemitic tropes. She later apologized for not "disavowing the anti-Semitic trope I unknowingly used".

2018: Accusations of Campaign Finance Violations

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

February 2019: Omar's "It's All About the Benjamins" tweet

In February 2019, after Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy threatened to "take action" against Omar and Rashida Tlaib for their support of the BDS movement, Ilhan Omar responded with a quote from a hip hop song, "It's All About the Benjamins", alluding to a slang term for U.S. $100 bills. This sparked controversy as it was seen as an antisemitic trope.

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February 27, 2019: Omar's comments on allegiance to a foreign country

On February 27, 2019, Ilhan Omar said of her critics: "I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country." The statements were quickly criticized as allegedly drawing on antisemitic tropes, and Omar reaffirmed her position.

March 7, 2019: House condemns bigotry in response to Omar's remarks

On March 7, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 407–23 to condemn "anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of bigotry" in response to Omar's remarks concerning Israel.

March 2019: Omar criticizes Obama's border policies

In a March 2019 Politico interview, Ilhan Omar criticized Barack Obama's "caging of kids" along the Mexican border. She later accused Politico of distorting her comments.

June 2019: Omar votes against border funding bill

In June 2019, Ilhan Omar was one of four Democratic representatives to vote against the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, a $4.5 billion border funding bill, citing concerns about human rights abuses.

June 2019: Campaign Finance 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 2019: Trump's Tweet and The Squad's Press Conference

In July 2019, following a tweet by Donald Trump that The Squad, including Ilhan Omar, should "go back" to the "places from which they came", Omar and the other members of the Squad held a press conference which was taped by CNN and posted to social media.

September 2019: Omar condemns Netanyahu's annexation plans

In September 2019, Ilhan Omar condemned Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to annex the eastern portion of the occupied West Bank known as the Jordan Valley and suggested Israelis should not vote for Netanyahu in the upcoming Israeli legislative election.

October 2019: Omar opposes Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria

In October 2019, Ilhan Omar opposed the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, citing the displacement of civilians, the escape of ISIS fighters, and atrocities committed by Turkish-backed rebels against the Kurds.

October 2019: Omar votes "present" on Armenian genocide resolution

In October 2019, Ilhan Omar voted "present" on H.Res. 296, a resolution to recognize the Armenian genocide, causing a backlash. She stated that accountability and recognition of genocide should not be used as a political tool.

November 17, 2020: Campaign Terminates Contract with E Street Group

On November 17, 2020, Ilhan Omar's campaign terminated its contract with the E Street Group to "make sure that anybody who is supporting our campaign with their time or financial support feels there is no perceived issue with that support."

2020: Alleged Interference in Presidential Election

In 2020, Ilhan Omar introduced articles of impeachment against Trump on charges related to Trump's alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election.

2020: Reaction among 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to Omar's remarks

In 2020, reactions among Democratic presidential candidates to Omar's controversial remarks were mixed, with some defending her and others finding her comments disturbing. The controversy also sparked debate about the influence of pro-Israel lobby campaign contributions and whether Omar was unfairly targeted due to her identity.

January 7, 2021: Introduced Articles of Impeachment Against Trump

On January 7, 2021, Ilhan Omar led a group of House members in introducing articles of impeachment against Trump related to the 2020 presidential election and the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

February 2, 2023: House removes Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee

On February 2, 2023, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a resolution to remove Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee for what Speaker Kevin McCarthy called "repeated antisemitic and anti-American remarks."

February 2023: Removal from Foreign Affairs Committee

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

September 10, 2025: Omar Condemns Charlie Kirk Assassination

On September 10, 2025, Ilhan Omar condemned the assassination of Charlie Kirk and criticized conservatives' reactions, leading to Republican efforts to remove her from committee assignments.