President Donald Trump responded sharply after Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance during a town hall in Minneapolis, claiming without evidence that the incident may have been staged.
Donald Trump reacts to Ilhan Omar being sprayed
Trump leveled a stunning accusation against Congresswoman Ilhan Omar without providing any evidence. When asked about the disturbing incident, Trump said in an interaction with ABC News, “I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud.” He added, “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
When asked whether he had watched video of the disruption, Trump said, “I haven’t seen it. No, no. I hope I don’t have to bother.” This reaction aligns with a pattern of attacks Donald Trump has frequently launched against Ilhan Omar, who is the lone Somali-American in Congress.
A livestream of the event showed a man interrupting Omar as she addressed constituents and called for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment following two fatal shootings involving immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis. The man then sprayed Omar with a liquid before being tackled and arrested by security.
Omar continued the town hall after the incident. At the event, she said, “These f—ing a–holes are not going to get away with it.” In later remarks, she added, “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 later wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “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,” and thanked constituents for their support.
Minnesota police said officers observed the suspect, identified as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, using a syringe to spray an unknown liquid on Omar. He was arrested at the scene and booked into Hennepin County Jail on the suspicion of a third-degree assault. Police said Omar was uninjured and resumed speaking, and forensic scientists processed the scene (via The Hill).
