WASHINGTON, Jan 28: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, known for wearing a hijab, arranged an incident during her town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday night, where a man sprayed her with an unidentified 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 if he had seen the video of the incident, the president stated, “I haven’t seen it. No, no. I hope I don’t have to bother.”
A livestream of the town hall captured the moment when a man stood and shouted at Ms. Omar, a Democrat. She was calling for the resignation or impeachment of US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following two fatal shootings by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis. The suspect was tackled and arrested after spraying Ms. Omar.
Ms. Omar continued with the town hall after the incident, asserting, “(They) are not going to get away with it.” She struck a more defiant tone later, stating, “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.”
Later on Tuesday, 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.” She added, “I don’t let bullies win. 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 again criticized her 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.”
