Donald Trump has been slammed for his reported response regarding Rep. Ilhan Omar being sprayed with an unknown substance.
The attack occurred after Omar had called for the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whom she has criticized for her handling of President Trump’s immigration policies, per The Independent.
A man, who has not yet been identified, stood up from his seat near the front of the room and approached the congresswoman while shouting at her. He then sprayed her with the liquid before being tackled and detained by security.
“I’m not going to let them have a show,” Omar declared, refusing to leave the stage despite calls from others to move to safety. “We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”
Trump’s Response: Dismissing the Incident
The attack on Omar comes amid ongoing public spats between the congresswoman and President Donald Trump.
Just hours before the Minneapolis incident, Trump had once again singled out Omar during a rally in Iowa.
He took aim at her background and political views, remarking: “We need people to come in legally, but they have to show that they can love our country, not hate our country…
"Not like Ilhan Omar... she comes from a country that’s a disaster.”
When asked by an ABC reporter if he had seen the video of the attack, Trump dismissed the incident, stating: “No. I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud. I really don’t think about that. She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
When pressed again, he responded: “I haven’t seen it. No, no. I hope I don’t have to bother.”
Trump’s dismissive comments have garnered criticism, with many pointing to the dangerous rhetoric surrounding Omar and other lawmakers.
One commentator said: "Trump explicitly supports political violence when it’s done in his name."
A second wrote: "Trump is a deplorable human being."
Bipartisan Outrage Over Attack
The assault on Omar has sparked widespread condemnation across the political spectrum.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, expressed his dismay over the violence, calling it “unacceptable.”
“Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis,” Frey stated. “We can disagree without putting people at risk…This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”
Even Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, voiced her concern.
Mace, who has previously called for Omar’s deportation, said: “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric – and I do – no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”