WASHINGTON, Jan 28: U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that hijab-wearing Congresswoman Ilhan Omar staged an incident at her town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday night when she was sprayed with an unknown substance by a man.
“I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud,” Trump commented to ABC News. “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her,” he added, without presenting evidence.
When questioned if he had seen the video of the incident, the President replied, “I haven’t seen it. No, no. I hope I don’t have to bother.”
A livestream of the town hall captured a man standing and yelling at Ms. Omar, a Democrat, who was demanding the resignation or impeachment of US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following two fatal shootings by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis. The suspect was subdued and arrested after spraying Ms. Omar.
Ms. Omar continued the town hall meeting after the incident, asserting, “ (They) are not going to get away with it.”
In her comments following the event, she maintained a defiant stance.
“I’ve survived war and I’m definitely going to survive intimidation or whatever these people think they can throw at me, because I’m built that way,” the lawmaker declared.
Later that day, the Minnesota Democrat wrote on the social platform X: “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.”
“I don’t let bullies win,” she continued. “Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”
Trump has often targeted Ms. Omar, the only Somali American in Congress, with xenophobic remarks. Just hours before Tuesday’s incident, he once again criticized her during an address in Iowa.
“She comes from a country that’s a disaster,” the President told the crowd. “It’s considered, I think, the worst [country]. It’s not even a country.”
