Recently, Florida Gov. and former GOP primary candidate Ron DeSantis blasted Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, calling for her removal from Congress following a controversial speech where she said her role as an American politician was to act in the interest of Somalia. DeSantis also suggested Omar should be denaturalized as a U.S. citizen and deported back to Somalia for her comments.
\nFollowing Omar\u2019s speech to Somalian leaders in Minnesota in late January, Republicans were quick to firmly rebuke the representative. In her remarks, she failed to mention her support for the United States, the country Omar was elected to serve. Instead, she noted that she was \u201cSomalian first, Muslim second\u201d while she was \u201chere to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system,\u201d according to a translation of her speech.
\nAmid the conservative backlash against Omar, defense attorney Marina Medvin denounced the liberal congresswoman\u2019s comments, where she didn\u2019t once indicate her interest in representing America. Medvin\u2019s powerful comment elicited DeSnatis\u2019 powerful response, calling for Omar\u2019s removal from American politics and subsequent deportation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIlhan Omar, an American congresswoman, tells Somalians that she is Somalian first, Muslim second, and\u2026 [no, American wasn\u2019t even mentioned]. Oh, and she says that her primary job in Congress is to protect Somali interests,\u201d Medvin posted on X. DeSantis responded to the tweet, \u201cExpel from Congress, denaturalize and deport!\u201d
\nOmar received criticism from several other lawmakers, such as House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who stated, \u201cIlhan Omar\u2019s appalling, Somalia-first comments are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office. She should resign in disgrace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ambassador Rhoda J Elmi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of Somaliland, posted on X, denouncing Omar\u2019s \u201cethno-racist\u201d rhetoric. \u201cWe were profoundly surprised, even shocked on discovering the remarks made by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D) of Minnesota in a recent public forum, widely circulated on most social media platforms and attached below for your reference,\u201d she said. \u201cThe language she employed was regrettably unbecoming of both the office she holds and the constituents she represents.\u201d<\/p>\n