Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) loudly heckled President Trump as he made a number of divisive comments about Somali immigrants during the State of the Union address.
Omar could be heard calling Trump a liar as the president said he would ignite a “war on fraud” he pinned on the Somali immigrant community.
“When it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there has been no more stunning example than Minnesota—where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer,” Trump said.
“The Somali pirates who ransack Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception. Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the USA,” Trump said.
The comments sparked an outburst from Omar, who was heard calling Trump a liar as she shouted back in the chamber.
The Somali community has been under scrutiny by the Trump administration in part due to a massive pandemic-era fraud scheme that stole hundreds of millions from a federally funded nutrition program. As much as $1 billion is reported to have been stolen in separate plots.
A viral December video about alleged fraud at Somali-run day care centers in the state further inflamed the administration’s response, including launching a massive immigration raid in Minneapolis.
As Trump talked about illegal immigration and the border, Rep. Rashida Talib (D-Mich.) yelled at Trump, “You’re killing Americans.” Omar also yelled, “You have killed Americans.”
Other Democrats wore pins and held up signs with protest messages. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) held up a two-sided sign with the photos of two Americans killed by immigration officers, Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out of the House chamber shortly after Trump began delivering his address, holding up a sign that read, “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES.”
