History of Ilhan Omar in Timeline
Ilhan Omar is a prominent American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019. Her election to Congress marked a significant moment as she became one of the first Somali-American members of Congress. Her district encompasses Minneapolis and its inner suburbs. She is known for her progressive political views and advocacy on issues such as affordable housing, climate change, and social justice.
1963: DFL Held District
Since 1963, the DFL has held Minnesota's 5th congressional district without interruption.
October 4, 1982: Ilhan Omar Born
On October 4, 1982, Ilhan Abdullahi Omar was born. She is now an American politician.
1982: Mention of El Mozote Massacre
In February 2019, while questioning Elliott Abrams' appointment, Omar mentioned his initial doubts about the number of reported deaths in the El Mozote massacre that occurred in 1982.
1991: Mention of Elliott Abrams' Convictions
In February 2019, while questioning Elliott Abrams' appointment, Omar mentioned his two 1991 misdemeanor convictions for withholding information from Congress about the Iran-Contra affair.
1994: CAIR Founding
In April 11, 2019, the New York Post printed a speech by Ilhan Omar. In the speech, Omar mentioned that CAIR was founded in 1994.
1995: Asylum in the U.S.
In 1995, Ilhan Omar's family secured asylum in the U.S. and arrived in New York.
2000: U.S. Citizenship
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
In April 11, 2019, the New York Post featured an image of the World Trade Center burning following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
2002: Engagement to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi
In 2002, Ilhan Omar became engaged to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi (né Aden) and had an unofficial, faith-based Islamic marriage with him.
2006: Community Nutrition Educator
In 2006, Ilhan Omar began her professional career as a community nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota.
2008: Faith-based Divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi
Ilhan Omar has said that she and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi divorced within their faith tradition in 2008.
2009: End of Nutrition Educator Role
In 2009, Ilhan Omar concluded 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
According to Omar, in 2011 she and Elmi had a faith-based divorce and she reconciled with 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: Campaign Manager
In 2012, Ilhan Omar served as campaign manager for Kari Dziedzic's reelection campaign for the Minnesota State Senate.
2012: Tweet about Israel hypnotizing the world
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." The comment drew criticism and accusations of antisemitism.
2012: Third Child with Hirsi
In 2012, Omar reconciled with Hirsi and had a third child with him.
2013: Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator
Between 2012 and 2013, Ilhan Omar was a child nutrition outreach coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Education.
2013: Managed Andrew Johnson's Campaign
In 2013, Ilhan Omar managed Andrew Johnson's campaign for Minneapolis City Council.
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 sustained a concussion and was hospitalized.
February 2014: Attack at Precinct Caucus
In February 2014, during a contentious precinct caucus, Ilhan Omar was attacked by five people and injured.
2014: Joint Tax Filing
In 2014, Ilhan Omar jointly filed taxes with a man she was not legally married to.
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
From 2013 to 2015, after Andrew Johnson was elected, Ilhan Omar served as his senior policy aide.
2015: Joint Tax Filing
In 2015, Ilhan Omar jointly filed taxes with a man she was not legally married to.
2015: Community Leadership Award
In 2015, Ilhan Omar received the Community Leadership Award from Mshale, an African immigrant media outlet based in Minneapolis.
2016: Minnesota House of Representatives Campaign
In 2016, Ilhan Omar ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 60B.
2016: Tax Filing Correction
In 2016, Ilhan Omar's attorney and accountants filed a correction to her tax filings.
2016: Miftah Co-sponsored Visit Approved by Israel
In 2016, Israel approved a visit by five U.S. representatives to Israel that Miftah co-sponsored, before enacting its anti-BDS law.
January 3, 2017: Term Began in Minnesota House
On January 3, 2017, Ilhan Omar's term began as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
2017: Legal Divorce from Ahmed Nur Said Elmi
In 2017, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi and Ilhan Omar legally divorced.
2017: Minnesota House of Representatives
In 2017, Ilhan Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing part of Minneapolis.
2017: Assistant Minority Leader
In 2017, Ilhan Omar was an assistant minority leader for the DFL caucus.
2017: Time Magazine's "Firsts"
In 2017, Time magazine named Ilhan Omar among its "Firsts: Women who are changing the world" and featured her on the cover of its September 18 issue.
February 2018: Vogue Feature
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.
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 Yemen. She highlighted the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and called for a boycott of the Saudi regime, leading to a response from Saudi-controlled Twitter accounts.
2018: Authored 38 bills
During the 2017–2018 legislative session, Ilhan Omar authored 38 bills.
2018: Legal Marriage to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi
In 2018, Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi legally married.
2018: Criticism for statements about Israel
In 2018, Ilhan Omar faced criticism for pre-legislature statements about Israel, including a 2012 tweet where she said, "Israel has hypnotized the world." This led to accusations of using antisemitic tropes and a subsequent apology.
2018: Maroon 5 Music Video Appearance
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.
2018: Campaign Finance Violation Accusations
In 2018, Republican state representative Steve Drazkowski accused Ilhan Omar of campaign finance violations.
2018: Time for Ilhan Documentary
In 2018, the documentary film Time for Ilhan, chronicling Ilhan Omar's political campaign, was selected to show at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival.
January 2019: Confirmation as Special Representative for Venezuela
In January 2019, Elliott Abrams was appointed as Special Representative for Venezuela. In February 2019, Omar questioned whether Abrams was the correct choice for this position.
January 2019: Denouncement of Trump Administration's Recognition of Juan Guaidó
In January 2019, Ilhan Omar joined fellow Democrats in denouncing the Trump administration's decision to recognize Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's interim president. She described Trump's action as a "U.S. backed coup" and advocated for peaceful dialogue facilitated by Mexico, Uruguay, and the Vatican.
February 2019: Questioning Elliott Abrams' Appointment
In February 2019, Ilhan Omar questioned whether Elliott Abrams was the correct choice for Special Representative for Venezuela, citing his past support of right-wing authoritarian regimes and his misdemeanor convictions for withholding information from Congress.
February 2019: Response to criticism with "It's All About the Benjamins"
In February 2019, after facing threats for supporting the BDS movement, Ilhan Omar responded with "It's All About the Benjamins," leading to accusations of antisemitism. She later clarified she was referring to the influence of pro-Israel lobbyists.
February 2019: FBI Arrest of Christopher Paul Hasson
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.
February 27, 2019: Remarks on allegiance to a foreign country
On February 27, 2019, Ilhan Omar stated it was OK to push for allegiance to a foreign country, sparking criticism for allegedly using antisemitic tropes. She defended her position, insisting she should not pledge support to a foreign country to serve in Congress.
March 7, 2019: House vote condemning bigotry
On March 7, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to condemn "anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of bigotry" in response to Ilhan Omar's remarks concerning Israel.
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.
March 2019: Criticism of Barack Obama's immigration policies
In a March 2019 interview, Ilhan Omar criticized Barack Obama's "caging of kids" along the Mexican border, prompting accusations of distorting her comments and leading to clarifications regarding her views on policy vs. politics.
April 7, 2019: Arrest of Patrick Carlineo Jr.
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's 9/11 Headline
On April 11, 2019, 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 with the headline: "REP. ILHAN OMAR: 9/11 WAS 'SOME PEOPLE DID SOMETHING'"
April 2019: Increase in Death Threats
In April 2019, Ilhan Omar stated that she had received more death threats after Trump made comments about her and 9/11, "many directly referencing or replying to the president's video".
May 2019: Introduction of legislation to sanction Brunei
In May 2019, Ilhan Omar introduced legislation that would sanction Brunei over a newly introduced law that would make homosexual sex and adultery punishable by death.
May 2019: Comments on U.S. Foreign Policy in 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: Release of Patrick Carlineo Jr.
In May 2019, Patrick Carlineo Jr., who was arrested for threatening Ilhan Omar, was released from custody and placed on house arrest.
June 2019: No Shame at School Act
In June 2019, Ilhan Omar and Senator Tina Smith introduced the No Shame at School Act, which would end the marking of—and punishment for—students with school meal debt.
June 2019: Participation in Twin Cities Pride
In June 2019, Ilhan Omar participated in Twin Cities Pride in Minnesota, showing her support for the LGBTQ+ community.
June 2019: Vote Against Border Funding Bill
In June 2019, Ilhan Omar voted against the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act. She stated that providing more money to organizations committing human rights abuses was not a solution.
June 2019: Campaign Finance Ruling
In June 2019, Minnesota campaign finance officials ruled that Ilhan Omar had to pay back $3,500 and a $500 fine for campaign finance violations.
July 14, 2019: Trump's "Go Back" Tweet
On July 14, 2019, Trump tweeted that The Squad, including Ilhan Omar, should "go back" to the "places from which they came", prompting Omar to accuse Trump of "stoking white nationalism".
July 2019: The Squad Press Conference
Following a July 2019 tweet by Trump, 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: Resolution on Boycotts
In July 2019, Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution co-sponsored by Rashida Tlaib and John Lewis supporting the right to participate in boycotts.
July 2019: Initial Statement by Israeli Ambassador
In July 2019, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, stated that any member of Congress would be allowed into Israel, which was later reversed in August 2019 when Omar and Tlaib were banned.
August 2019: Ban from entering Israel
In August 2019, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were banned from entering Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu cited Israeli law and their support for BDS as reasons.
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, explaining that such threats are why she now has security protection.
September 2019: Assertion of Danger Due to Trump's Retweet
In September 2019, Ilhan Omar asserted that 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 Jordan Valley and suggested Israelis should not vote for him in the legislative election.
October 7, 2019: Filing 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.
October 2019: Opposition to Turkish offensive in Syria
In October 2019, Ilhan Omar opposed the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, citing the displacement of civilians, escape of Islamic State fighters, and atrocities against the Kurds.
October 2019: Vote on Armenian Genocide recognition
In October 2019, Ilhan Omar voted "present" on H.Res. 296, a resolution to recognize the Armenian genocide, which caused a backlash. She argued such recognition should also include the Atlantic slave trade and Native American genocide.
November 5, 2019: Finalization of Divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi
On November 5, 2019, Ilhan Omar's divorce from Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi was finalized.
November 2019: Danielle Stella's Twitter Ban
In November 2019, Danielle Stella, Ilhan Omar's Republican opponent for Congress, was banned from Twitter for suggesting that Omar be hanged for treason.
December 2019: George Buck's Suggestion of Hanging
In December 2019, George Buck, another Republican running for Congress, also suggested that Ilhan Omar be hanged for treason, leading to his removal 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: Letter to Trump on Congressional Authorization
In 2019, Ilhan Omar signed a letter to President Trump asserting it was time to rein in the use of force beyond congressional authorization and hoped to end hostilities in Afghanistan.
March 2020: Marriage to Tim Mynett
In March 2020, Ilhan Omar married Tim Mynett, a political consultant.
May 2020: Support for 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, while clarifying it wasn't an endorsement of Trump's Iran policy.
June 2020: Challenged in primary race
In April-June 2020, mediation lawyer Antone Melton-Meaux raised $3.2 million compared to about $500,000 by Omar in the primary race.
June 2020: Support for Police Abolition
In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Ilhan Omar supported the police abolition movement in Minneapolis, advocating for the dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department and the creation of a new department modeled after the Camden County Police Department in New Jersey. Omar stated that the existing department had "proven themselves beyond reform."
October 19, 2020: Twitch Stream with Popular Streamers
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 17, 2020: Termination of Contract with Mynett's Firm
On November 17, 2020, Ilhan Omar's campaign terminated its contract with Tim Mynett's firm, the E Street Group, to address concerns about perceived conflicts of interest.
2020: Publication of Memoir
In 2020, HarperCollins published Ilhan Omar's memoir, This Is What America Looks Like, written with Rebecca Paley.
2020: Mixed Reactions from Democratic Presidential Candidates
In 2020, Ilhan Omar's remarks prompted mixed reactions from Democratic presidential candidates. While some defended her, others found her comments disturbing, leading to a resolution condemning bigotry.
2020: Presidential Election Interference
The impeachment charges introduced on January 7, 2021 by Ilhan Omar were related to Trump's alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
January 7, 2021: Impeachment Articles Against Trump
On January 7, 2021, Ilhan Omar led a group of 13 House members introducing articles of impeachment against Trump.
November 5, 2021: Vote Against Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
On November 5, 2021, Ilhan Omar voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act because it was decoupled from the social safety net provisions in the Build Back Better Act, breaking with most of her party.
November 2021: Lauren Boebert's Anti-Muslim Comments
In November 2021, Republican Representative Lauren Boebert made anti-Muslim comments about Ilhan Omar, claiming she mistook Omar for a terrorist. Omar refuted the story as fabricated and condemned Boebert's bigotry.
2021: Capitol Attack Trauma
Speaking after the 2021 United States Capitol attack, Ilhan Omar said the experience was very traumatizing and that the trauma would last a long time.
July 19, 2022: Arrested at Reproductive Rights Protest
On July 19, 2022, Ilhan Omar and 17 other members of Congress were arrested for refusing to clear a street during a protest for reproductive rights outside the Supreme Court Building.
2022: Won Primary Against Don Samuels
In 2022, Ilhan Omar won the Democratic primary with 56% of the vote against Don Samuels, whom she had defeated in the primary, along with Tim Peterson and Sarah Gad.
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 due to 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.
July 6, 2023: Opposition to cluster munitions for Ukraine
On July 6, 2023, Ilhan Omar opposed President Biden's authorization of cluster munitions to Ukraine, stating it violated international law.
July 18, 2023: Vote against resolution on Israel
On July 18, 2023, Ilhan Omar voted against a congressional resolution stating that "the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state."
October 16, 2023: Call for Gaza ceasefire
On October 16, 2023, Ilhan Omar signed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, criticizing U.S. support for Israel's bombing.
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 comprehensive standards and regulations for privacy violations across all social media companies, rather than targeting specific platforms.
May 2024: Support for ICC investigation in Palestine
In May 2024, Ilhan Omar voiced support for the International Criminal Court investigation in Palestine, advocating for its independent work.
August 2024: Criticism of arms shipments to Israel
In August 2024, Ilhan Omar criticized the Biden administration's arms shipments to Israel, linking it to the call for a ceasefire.
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