WASHINGTON, Jan 28: US President Donald Trump has accused hijab-wearing American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of staging an incident during her town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday night. In the event, a man sprayed her with an unknown substance.
“I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud,” Trump told ABC News. “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her,” he added, without providing evidence.
When asked whether 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.”
The livestream of the town hall meeting captured the moment the man stood up and yelled at Ms. Omar, a Democrat. She was advocating for the resignation or impeachment of US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following two deadly shootings involving immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis. The suspect was apprehended and arrested after attacking Ms. Omar.
Ms. Omar continued with the town hall despite the incident, asserting, “[They] are not going to get away with it.”
She expressed even stronger defiance in later remarks, saying, “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,” she declared.
Later on Tuesday, the Minnesota Democrat took to the social platform X, writing, “I’m okay. 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 added. “Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”
Trump has previously directed xenophobic remarks at Ms. Omar, the only Somali American serving in Congress. Hours before Tuesday’s incident, he criticized her once more during a speech in Iowa.
“She comes from a country that’s a disaster,” the president said to the crowd. “It’s considered, I think, the worst [country]. It’s not even a country.”
