Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that “Squad” member Ilhan Omar should be kicked out of both Congress and the US after video emerged of the far-left Democrat giving a speech in which critics say she placed Somali interests above those of the US.
“Expel from Congress, denaturalize and deport!” the former 2024 Republican presidential candidate wrote on X next to a clip of Omar’s remarks.
The latest controversy involving the Minnesota lawmaker kicked off after Omar delivered a Somali-language speech to a gathering of community leaders at a Minneapolis hotel Saturday night, during which she railed against plans by the Ethiopian government to enter a sea access deal with the breakaway Republic of Somaliland.
In a translated video of the remarks shared by DeSantis, Omar said that “the US government will only do what Somalians in the US tell them to do. They must do what we want and nothing else. They must follow our orders and that is how we will safeguard the interest of Somalia.”
“The US is a country where one of your daughters is in Congress to represent your interest,” added Omar, referring to herself. “For as long as I am in the US Congress, Somalia will never be in danger, its waters will not be stolen by Ethiopia or others … Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the US system.”
Omar, 41, also ranted against the governments of Ethiopia and Kenya, accusing them of having “stolen” territory from their neighboring nation and saying, according to the translation, that “we will liberate the occupied territories” of Djibouti, Somaliland and Kenya’s North Eastern Province, the latter of which has a large population of ethnic Somalis and Somali refugees
The congresswoman has insisted her remarks were misinterpreted after she was condemned by Somaliland’s deputy foreign minister, who accused her of “ethno-racist rhetoric.”
“It’s not only slanted but completely off, but I wouldn’t expect more from these propagandists. I pray for them and for their sanity,” Omar responded.
“Somalis in Somalia and in the diaspora are united in that effort and I stand in solidarity with them. No amount of harassment and lies will ever change that.”
In a different translation, which the congresswoman shared, she was quoted as saying, “We are sisters and brothers, supporting each other, people who know they are Somalis and Muslims, coming to each other’s aid and aiding their brothers and sisters.”
“The US government will do what we ask it to do,” she said. “We live in this country. We are taxpayers in this country.”
Omar also underscored that while she is in Congress, “no one will take Somalia’s sea” and the US “will not back others to rob us.”
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, as the East African country descended into civil war. It has not been officially recognized by any United Nations member state or international organization.
Omar, the first Somali-American in Congress, was born in Mogadishu and immigrated to the US, becoming a citizen in 2000.
She is one of two Muslim women lawmakers in the House of Representatives, along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.)
Omar’s fellow Minnesotan, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, said Monday that Omar should “resign in disgrace” over her “appalling, Somalia-first comments,” which he called “a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office.”
In response to DeSantis, Omar chided Tuesday that the 45-year-old was “[m]oving from 2024 failure and preparing for 2028 failure.”
A rep for Omar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.