Childhood and Education Journey of Ilhan Omar in Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Ilhan Omar. From birth to education, explore key events.

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

1977: Ogaden War

In 1977, Ilhan Omar's father served with distinction as a colonel in the Somali army under Siad Barre in the Ogaden War between Somalia and Ethiopia.

October 4, 1982: Ilhan Omar's birth

On October 4, 1982, Ilhan Abdullahi Omar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia.

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1994: CAIR founded

In 1994, the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) was founded. Ilhan Omar referenced CAIR in a 2019 speech.

1995: Family secured asylum in the U.S.

In 1995, Ilhan Omar's family secured asylum in the U.S. and arrived in New York, later settling in Minneapolis.

2000: Became a U.S. citizen

In 2000, at the age of 17, Ilhan Omar became a U.S. citizen.

2001: Many new members joined CAIR after the 9/11 attacks

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, many new members joined the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR), which was referenced by Ilhan Omar in a speech in 2019.

2001: Graduated from Thomas Edison High School

In 2001, Ilhan Omar graduated from Thomas Edison High School.

2002: Engaged to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi

In 2002, Ilhan Omar became engaged to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi (né Aden). She has stated they had an unofficial, faith-based Islamic marriage.

2008: Divorced Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi

Ilhan Omar has said that she and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi divorced within their faith tradition in 2008.

2009: Married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi

In 2009, Ilhan Omar married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British Somali.

2011: Divorced Ahmed Nur Said Elmi and reconciled with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi

According to Ilhan Omar, in 2011 she and Ahmed Nur Said Elmi had a faith-based divorce and she reconciled with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi.

2011: Graduated from North Dakota State University

In 2011, Ilhan Omar graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in political science and international studies.

2012: Had third child with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi

In 2012, Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi had a third child together.

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.

2015: Received Community Leadership Award from Mshale

In 2015, Ilhan Omar received the Community Leadership Award from Mshale, an African immigrant media outlet based in Minneapolis. The prize is awarded annually on a readership basis.

2017: Legally divorced Ahmed Nur Said Elmi

In 2017, Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Nur Said Elmi legally divorced.

2017: Named one of Time magazine's "Firsts: Women who are changing the world"

In 2017, Time magazine named Ilhan Omar among its "Firsts: Women who are changing the world," a special report on 46 women who broke barriers in their respective disciplines, and featured her on the cover of its September 18 issue.

February 2018: Featured in Vogue as one of the "five families who are changing the world"

In February 2018, Ilhan Omar's family was named one of the "five families who are changing the world as we know it" by Vogue in their February 2018 issue featuring photographs by Annie Leibovitz.

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: Legally married Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi

In 2018, Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi legally married.

2018: Featured in Maroon 5's "Girls Like You" music video

In 2018, Ilhan Omar was featured in the music video for Maroon 5's "Girls Like You" featuring Cardi B.

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2018: Time for Ilhan documentary film released

In 2018, the documentary film Time for Ilhan (directed by Norah Shapiro, produced by Jennifer Steinman Sternin and Chris Newberry) chronicles Ilhan Omar's political campaign. It was selected to show at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival.

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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.

March 2019: Addressed rally in support of Minnesota bill banning gay conversion therapy

In March 2019, Ilhan Omar addressed a rally in support of a Minnesota bill that aimed to ban gay conversion therapy within the state. She had previously co-sponsored a similar bill while serving in the Minnesota House.

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: 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: Participated in Twin Cities Pride in Minnesota

In June 2019, Ilhan Omar participated in Twin Cities Pride in Minnesota, showing her support for the LGBTQ+ community.

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."

July 2019: Held press conference with The Squad after Trump's tweet

Following a July 2019 tweet by then-President Trump that The Squad—a group consisting of Ilhan Omar and three other congresswomen of color who were born in the United States—should "go back" to the "places from which they came", Omar and the other members of the Squad held a press conference that was taped by CNN and posted to social media.

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.

August 2019: Supported Palestinian LGBT rights group Al Qaws on Twitter

In August 2019, Ilhan Omar voiced her support on Twitter for Al Qaws, a Palestinian LGBT rights group, after the Palestinian Authority prohibited Al Qaws' activities in the West Bank.

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".

October 7, 2019: Filed for divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi

On October 7, 2019, Ilhan Omar filed for divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, citing an "irretrievable breakdown" of the marriage.

November 5, 2019: Divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi finalized

On November 5, 2019, the divorce between Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi was finalized.

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.

October 19, 2020: Streamed Among Us game on Twitch to encourage voting

On October 19, 2020, Ilhan Omar joined Ocasio-Cortez, Disguised Toast, Jacksepticeye, and Pokimane in a Twitch stream playing the popular game Among Us, encouraging streamers to vote in the 2020 election. This collaboration garnered almost half a million views.

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".

2021: Response to Capitol attack

In 2021, following the United States Capitol attack, Ilhan Omar spoke about the traumatizing experience and its lasting impact on democracy.

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.