History of Ilhan Omar in Timeline
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.
1963: DFL Held District
Since 1963, the DFL held the 5th district of Minnesota without interruption.
October 4, 1982: Ilhan Omar's Birth
On October 4, 1982, Ilhan Abdullahi Omar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia.
1982: El Mozote massacre
In 1982, the El Mozote massacre happened, and Elliott Abrams initially doubted the number of reported deaths.
1991: Elliott Abrams convicted for withholding information
In 1991, Elliott Abrams was convicted for withholding information from Congress about the Iran–Contra affair.
1994: Founding of CAIR
In 1994, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was founded.
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.
2001: 9/11 Attacks
The September 11th terrorist attacks occurred in 2001, leading to many new members joining CAIR.
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.
2006: Community Nutrition Educator
In 2006, Ilhan Omar began working as a community nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota.
2008: Divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi
In 2008, Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi divorced within their faith tradition.
2009: End of time as Community Nutrition Educator
In 2009, Ilhan Omar ended her role as a community nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota.
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.
2012: Campaign Manager
In 2012, Ilhan Omar served as campaign manager for Kari Dziedzic's reelection campaign for the Minnesota State Senate.
2012: Controversial Tweet About Israel
In 2012, before entering the Minnesota legislature, Ilhan Omar posted a tweet stating, "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." This tweet garnered criticism for employing antisemitic tropes, particularly the notion that Israel had "hypnotized the world."
2013: Managed Andrew Johnson's Campaign
In 2013, Ilhan Omar managed Andrew Johnson's campaign for Minneapolis City Council and later became his senior policy aide.
2013: Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator
In 2013, Ilhan Omar was a child nutrition outreach coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Education.
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.
2014: Joint Tax Filing Issue
In 2014, Ilhan Omar jointly filed taxes with a man she was not legally married to, a practice not permitted in Minnesota.
September 2015: Director of Policy Initiatives
As of September 2015, Ilhan Omar was the Director of Policy Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network.
2015: Senior Policy Aide
In 2015, Ilhan Omar ended her role as senior policy aide.
2015: Joint Tax Filing Issue
In 2015, Ilhan Omar jointly filed taxes with a man she was not legally married to, a practice not permitted in Minnesota.
2015: 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 based on readership.
2016: Elected to Minnesota House of Representatives
In 2016, Ilhan Omar ran on the Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) ticket for the Minnesota House of Representatives and won the general election, becoming the first Somali-American legislator in the United States.
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.
2016: Previous Visit Approval by Israel
In 2016, Israel approved a visit by five U.S. representatives to Israel that Miftah co-sponsored. However, that was before Israel enacted its anti-BDS law.
January 3, 2017: Term Began in Minnesota House
On January 3, 2017, Ilhan Omar's term as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives began.
2017: Legal divorce from Elmi
In 2017, Ilhan Omar legally divorced Ahmed Nur Said Elmi.
2017: Minnesota House of Representatives
In 2017, Ilhan Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
2017: Assistant Minority Leader
In 2017, Ilhan Omar was an assistant minority leader for the DFL caucus in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
2017: Named among Time'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 women who broke barriers, and featured her on the cover of its September 18 issue.
February 2018: Featured in Vogue
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 issue featuring photographs by Annie Leibovitz.
June 5, 2018: Filed for U.S. House of Representatives
On June 5, 2018, Ilhan Omar filed to run for the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th congressional district.
September 2018: Progressive Rising Star
In September 2018, Jeff Cirillo of Roll Call called Ilhan Omar a "progressive rising star".
October 2018: Criticism of 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. She specifically mentioned the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and called for a boycott of the Saudi regime, using the hashtag '#BDSSaudi' on Twitter.
2018: Legal marriage to Hirsi
In 2018, Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi legally married.
2018: Authored 38 bills
In 2018, Ilhan Omar authored 38 bills during the legislative session of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
2018: Criticism for Statements About Israel
In 2018, Ilhan Omar faced criticism for statements she had made about Israel before her time in the Minnesota legislature, including a 2012 tweet. After reading a commentary by Bari Weiss, Omar apologized for not "disavowing the anti-Semitic trope I unknowingly used".
2018: Appearance 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.
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.
2018: Campaign Finance Violation Accusations
In 2018, Republican state representative Steve Drazkowski publicly accused Ilhan Omar of campaign finance violations.
2018: Release of Time for Ilhan documentary
In 2018, the documentary film Time for Ilhan, directed by Norah Shapiro, chronicled Ilhan Omar's political campaign. It was selected to show at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival.
January 2019: Appointment of Elliott Abrams as Special Representative for Venezuela
In January 2019, Elliott Abrams was appointed as Special Representative for Venezuela by the Trump administration.
January 2019: Denouncement of Trump Administration's recognition of Juan Guaidó
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 as Venezuela's interim president. Omar described Trump's action as a "U.S. backed coup" and advocated for supporting peaceful dialogue facilitated by Mexico, Uruguay, and the Vatican.
February 2019: Questioning Elliott Abrams' appointment as Special Representative for Venezuela
In February 2019, Ilhan Omar questioned whether Elliott Abrams, appointed as Special Representative for Venezuela, 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 deaths in the El Mozote massacre, and his convictions for withholding information from Congress about the Iran–Contra affair.
February 2019: Controversy Over 'It's All About the Benjamins' Comment
In February 2019, after being tagged in a tweet about U.S. political leaders defending a foreign nation at the expense of Americans' free speech rights, Ilhan Omar responded with the quote, "It's All About the Benjamins," alluding to U.S. $100 bills. This sparked accusations of using an antisemitic trope regarding Jews and money, though some defended her comment, suggesting she was referring to the influence of pro-Israel lobbyists like AIPAC.
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.
February 27, 2019: Statements on Allegiance to a Foreign Country
On February 27, 2019, Ilhan Omar stated that it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country, which was criticized as drawing on antisemitic tropes. Despite calls for retraction and apology, Omar reaffirmed her position, emphasizing her right to criticize Israel without being labeled anti-Semitic and highlighting the undue influence of lobbying groups for foreign interests.
March 7, 2019: House Resolution Condemning Bigotry
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. The resolution aimed to address various forms of prejudice.
March 2019: Support for Minnesota bill banning gay conversion therapy
In March 2019, Ilhan Omar addressed a rally in support of a Minnesota bill that would ban gay conversion therapy in the state. She had previously co-sponsored a similar bill when she was a member of the Minnesota House.
March 2019: Criticism of Barack Obama's Border Policy
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 and clarified that she was highlighting the differences between President Trump and Obama, focusing on policy rather than politics.
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: Introduction of legislation sanctioning Brunei
In May 2019, Ilhan Omar introduced legislation that would sanction Brunei over its recently introduced law that made homosexual sex and adultery punishable by death.
May 2019: Statement on U.S. foreign policy and Venezuela
In May 2019, Ilhan Omar stated in an interview 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: 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: Introduction of the No Shame at School Act
In June 2019, Ilhan Omar and Senator Tina Smith introduced the No Shame at School Act. This act aimed to end the practice of marking and punishing students who have school meal debt, ensuring that all students have access to meals without facing shame or penalty.
June 2019: Participation in Twin Cities Pride
In June 2019, Ilhan Omar participated in Twin Cities Pride in Minnesota.
June 2019: Vote Against Border Funding Bill
In June 2019, Ilhan Omar was one of four Democratic representatives who voted against the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, a $4.5 billion border funding bill. She argued that providing more money to organizations committing human rights abuses was not a solution to the humanitarian crisis at the border.
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 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: Press conference by The Squad
Following President Trump's July 2019 tweet that The Squad should "go back" to the "places from which they came", Ilhan Omar and the other members of the Squad held a press conference that was taped by CNN and posted to social media.
July 2019: Boycott Resolution Introduced
In July 2019, Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution co-sponsored by Rashida Tlaib and John Lewis supporting the right to participate in boycotts for civil and human rights.
July 2019: Initial Statement on Allowing Entry to Israel
In July 2019, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer initially stated that "any member of Congress" would be allowed to enter Israel.
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 their support for BDS and Israeli law, which prevents entry to people who call for a boycott of Israel. President Trump also tweeted that Israel allowing the visit would "show great weakness."
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".
September 2019: Condemnation of 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. She also stated that Israelis should not vote for Netanyahu in the upcoming September 2019 Israeli legislative election.
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: Controversial 'Present' Vote on Armenian Genocide Recognition
In October 2019, Ilhan Omar faced backlash for voting "present" on H.Res. 296, a resolution to recognize the Armenian genocide. She explained her vote, stating that accountability and recognition of genocide should not be used as a political cudgel and should also include the Atlantic slave trade and Native American genocide.
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: U.S. Representative
In 2019, Ilhan Omar began serving as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district.
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.
2019: Letter to President Trump on use of force
In 2019, Ilhan Omar signed a letter with Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Rand Paul to President Trump, asserting the need to rein in the use of force beyond congressional authorization, hoping it would be a model for ending hostilities, particularly in Afghanistan.
March 2020: Omar Marries Tim Mynett
In March 2020, Ilhan Omar married Tim Mynett, a political consultant. His firm, E Street Group, received significant contracts from Omar's campaign, leading to scrutiny.
May 2020: Signing of AIPAC-backed letter on UN embargo against Iran
In May 2020, Ilhan Omar signed a letter backed by AIPAC calling for the continuation of the UN embargo against Iran. Her office stated it was a "narrow ask" that aligned with her long-standing opposition to human rights abuses and shouldn't be interpreted as support for the Trump administration's Iran policy.
June 2020: Primary Funding
In April-June 2020, Antone Melton-Meaux raised $3.2 million for primary, compared to about $500,000 by Omar.
June 2020: Support for police abolition movement
In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Ilhan Omar supported the police abolition movement in Minneapolis. She expressed that the Minneapolis Police Department had "proven themselves beyond reform" and hoped for a new department modeled after the Camden County Police Department in New Jersey.
October 19, 2020: Twitch stream of Among Us with other personalities
On October 19, 2020, Ilhan Omar joined Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Disguised Toast, Jacksepticeye, and Pokimane in a Twitch stream playing the game Among Us, encouraging viewers to vote in the 2020 election. This garnered almost half a million views.
November 17, 2020: Omar's Campaign Terminates Contract with Mynett's Firm
On November 17, 2020, Ilhan Omar's campaign terminated its contract with Tim Mynett's firm, E Street Group, to address concerns about potential conflicts of interest and ensure donors' confidence.
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.
2020: Trump's alleged interference
In 2020, Trump's alleged interference in the presidential election in Georgia
2020: Mixed Reaction Among 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates
In 2020, there was mixed reaction among the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates regarding Omar's statements. While Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders defended her, Senator Cory Booker found her comments "disturbing" but recognized anti-Islamic sentiment in some of the attacks against her. The controversy led to a resolution condemning antisemitism, later amended to include Islamophobia, racism, and homophobia, which the House passed on March 7.
January 7, 2021: Introduced Impeachment Articles Against Trump
On January 7, 2021, Ilhan Omar led a group introducing articles of impeachment against Donald Trump related to his alleged interference in the 2020 election and incitement of the Capitol attack.
November 5, 2021: Vote Against Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
On November 5, 2021, Ilhan Omar was among six House Democrats who voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Her opposition stemmed from the bill being decoupled from the social safety net provisions included in the Build Back Better Act.
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.
2022: Defeated Don Samuels in primary
Ilhan Omar defeated Don Samuels in the 2022 primary.
February 2, 2023: Removal from House 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, citing what Speaker Kevin McCarthy called "repeated antisemitic and anti-American remarks." This decision faced opposition from many prominent House Democrats who stood by Omar.
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, citing past comments about Israel and concerns over her objectivity.
July 6, 2023: Opposition to cluster munitions for Ukraine
On July 6, 2023, Ilhan Omar opposed President Biden's decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine for their counter-offensive against Russian forces. She stated, "We can support the people of Ukraine in their freedom struggle while also opposing violations of international law."
July 18, 2023: Vote Against Resolution on Israel
On July 18, 2023, Ilhan Omar voted against a congressional non-binding resolution proposed by August Pfluger, which stated that "the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state." The resolution also affirmed that Congress rejects "all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia" and that "the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel".
October 16, 2023: Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza War
On October 16, 2023, Ilhan Omar signed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. She also criticized the United States' support for Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
March 2024: Opposition to TikTok ban
In March 2024, Ilhan Omar opposed a bill that would ban TikTok if its Chinese owner did not sell, citing First Amendment concerns. She advocated for creating standards and regulations around privacy violations across social media companies instead of targeting specific platforms.
May 2024: Support for ICC Investigation in Palestine
In May 2024, Ilhan Omar voiced her support for the International Criminal Court investigation in Palestine, stating that the ICC "must be allowed to conduct its work independently and without interference."
August 2024: Criticism of Biden Administration's Arms Shipments to Israel
In August 2024, Ilhan Omar criticized the Biden administration's arms shipments to Israel. She stated that "if you really want a ceasefire, you just stop sending the weapons."
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