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 U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district, serving since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. Her district encompasses Minneapolis and its inner suburbs. As a politician, she is known for her progressive stances and activism. She is one of the first Somali-American members of Congress, contributing to the diversity of representation in the United States government.

Sections (5)

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

1963: DFL Held District

Since 1963, the DFL held the 5th district of Minnesota without interruption.

1977: Ogaden War

In 1977, Ilhan Omar's father, Nur Omar Mohamed, served with distinction as a colonel in the Somali army during 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.

Others born on this day/year

1995: Arrival 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: Graduation from Thomas Edison High School

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

2002: Engagement to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi

In 2002, Ilhan Omar became engaged to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi (né Aden). They had an unofficial, faith-based Islamic marriage and later had two children together.

2008: Divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi

In 2008, Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi divorced within their faith tradition.

2009: Marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi

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

2011: Faith-based divorce from Ahmed Nur Said Elmi and reconciliation with Hirsi

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

2011: Graduation 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: Third child with Hirsi

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

February 4, 2014: Attack during DFL caucus

On February 4, 2014, Ilhan Omar was attacked and wounded by multiple attendees during a DFL caucus for Minnesota's House of Representatives District 60B. She was organizing the event and sustained a concussion, requiring hospitalization.

February 2014: Attack at Precinct Caucus

In February 2014, Ilhan Omar was attacked and injured at a contentious precinct caucus.

2016: Tax Filing Correction

In 2016, Ilhan Omar's attorney and accountants filed a correction for the improper joint tax filings from 2014 and 2015.

2017: Legal divorce from Elmi

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

2018: Legal marriage to Hirsi

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

2018: Target of online hate speech

In 2018, Ilhan Omar was the prime target of online hate speech, with roughly half of the 90,000 tweets mentioning her including hate speech or Islamophobic or anti-immigrant language, according to a Social Science Research Council study.

February 2019: Arrest of Christopher Paul Hasson

In February 2019, the FBI arrested United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Christopher Paul Hasson, who allegedly plotted to assassinate various journalists and political figures, including Ilhan Omar. Hasson was described as a "long time White Nationalist" and former skinhead.

April 7, 2019: Arrest of Patrick Carlineo Jr. 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 front page controversy

On April 11, 2019, the New York Post's front page featured an image of the World Trade Center burning and a quotation from Ilhan Omar's speech about 9/11, leading to controversy. The headline read, "REP. ILHAN OMAR: 9/11 WAS 'SOME PEOPLE DID SOMETHING'", though Omar's full speech contextualized the quote within the context of civil liberties for Muslims in the U.S.

April 2019: Increased death threats after Trump comments

In April 2019, Ilhan Omar reported receiving more death threats after President Trump made comments about her and 9/11, with "many directly referencing or replying to the president's video".

May 2019: Carlineo released from custody

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

June 2019: Participation in Twin Cities Pride

In June 2019, Ilhan Omar participated in Twin Cities Pride in Minnesota.

July 14, 2019: Trump's tweet about 'The Squad'

On July 14, 2019, President Trump tweeted that The Squad—a group including Ilhan Omar—should "go back" to the "places from which they came". In response, Omar accused Trump of "stoking white nationalism".

July 2019: Media Coverage Disparity

From January to July 2019, Brian Stelter of CNN Business found that Ilhan Omar had around twice as many mentions on Fox News as on CNN and MSNBC.

August 2019: Publication of anonymous threat

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

September 2019: Assertion of danger from Trump's retweet

In September 2019, Ilhan Omar asserted that 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: Filing for divorce from Hirsi

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

October 2019: Opposition to Turkish Offensive into North-Eastern Syria

In October 2019, Ilhan Omar voiced her opposition to the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria. She stated that the invasion had resulted in a disaster, with tens of thousands of civilians forced to flee, hundreds of Islamic State fighters escaping, and Turkish-backed rebels accused of atrocities against the Kurds.

November 5, 2019: Finalization of divorce from Hirsi

On November 5, 2019, Ilhan Omar's divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi was finalized.

November 2019: Danielle Stella banned from Twitter for suggesting Omar's execution

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 suggests Omar's execution

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

2019: Condemnation of Sri Lanka Easter Bombings

In 2019, Ilhan Omar condemned the Sri Lanka Easter bombings, stating that no person of any faith should live in fear while in their place of worship. This statement was made in response to the attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka during Easter celebrations.

2020: Publication of 'This Is What America Looks Like'

In 2020, HarperCollins published Ilhan Omar's memoir, 'This Is What America Looks Like', which she co-authored with Rebecca Paley.

November 2021: Controversy with Lauren Boebert

In November 2021, Republican Representative Lauren Boebert claimed she shared an elevator with Ilhan Omar and mistook her for a terrorist, referring to her as the "Jihad Squad". Omar denied the incident and called Boebert's comments "anti-Muslim bigotry".

2021: Reaction to Capitol Attack

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

July 19, 2022: Arrested at Reproductive Rights Protest

On July 19, 2022, Ilhan Omar and 17 other members of Congress were arrested for an act of civil disobedience. They refused to clear a street during a protest outside the Supreme Court Building advocating for reproductive rights following the Supreme Court's decision to overrule Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.