President Donald Trump has indicated that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s assets as his administration grapples with the fallout from the killing of protester Alex Preti in Minneapolis.
The Republican president also announced Monday that he would send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, where protests have been ongoing since federal immigration agents shot and killed Preti, a 37-year-old nurse, in the state Saturday morning.
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“Tom is tough but fair and will report directly to me,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “Separately, a major investigation is underway into a massive $20 billion-plus welfare fraud in Minnesota that is at least in part responsible for the violent and organized protests that are taking place in the streets.”
“Additionally, the Justice Department and Congress are also keeping an eye on ‘Congressman’ Ilhan Omar, who left Somalia with nothing and is now said to be worth more than $44 million. Time will tell all.”
Omar’s net worth has increased to millions of dollars in recent years thanks to her husband’s wealth. Omar represents Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Omar answers
The lawmaker hit back at Trump, accusing him of calling her out to distract from his declining popularity.
“Sorry, Mr. Trump, your support is collapsing and you are panicking,” Omar wrote to X.
“You’re just trying to distract from your own failures with lies and conspiracy theories about me. Years of ‘investigations’ have turned up nothing. Get your thugs out of Minnesota.”
Earlier, President Trump had publicly asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation into his political opponents.
President Trump said last week that Omar “should be investigated for financial and political crimes, and the investigation should begin now.”
Omar, who is of Somali descent, is one of Trump’s favorite targets, and he often uses Islamophobic language to attack her.
The Muslim American congresswoman has been a vocal critic of President Trump’s policies and rhetoric, including his attacks on the Somali community.
After Trump attacked her last month and called the Somali community “trash,” Omar accused Trump of having a “creepy” obsession with her.
“I hope he gets the help he so desperately needs,” she said at the time.
In recent months, President Trump has constantly brought up Omar and the Somali community, bringing up Minnesota’s coronavirus-era welfare embezzlement scandal in which dozens of people, including some Somali immigrants, were indicted.
Late last year, President Trump mocked Omar’s scarf during a tirade against Minnesota and its Democratic governor, Tim Walz, saying she was “always wrapped up in a hijab.”
At the same time, the Trump administration has launched an immigration crackdown in Minnesota, appearing to target the state’s large Somali community.
But the heavy-handed tactics of immigration officials in the state drew nationwide condemnation. Earlier this month, federal agents shot and killed Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, as she tried to flee from immigration agents who surrounded her car.
The Trump administration accused her of trying to ram the officer, but video footage cast doubt on that claim.
Preeti’s murder followed, when she was shot multiple times after a scuffle with immigration officials. The White House called the victims “domestic terrorists” and said they were armed with guns.
However, videos taken from multiple angles showed Preity holding a cell phone in one hand and her other hand raised and empty before the shooting.
President Trump speaks with Walz
The killings of Mr. Good and Mr. Preti took place in Minneapolis, where Mr. Omar is also represented.
“I am absolutely horrified that federal agents are targeting and executing our residents instead of protecting them,” the congressman said in a statement Saturday.
She called on federal immigration officials to leave the city and impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Late Monday, President Trump spoke with Minnesota Gov. Walz and said the two “seemed to be on the same wavelength.”
“I told Governor Walz, I’m going to have Tom Homan call me and what we’re looking for are all kinds of criminals that they have on their hands,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “The governor has graciously understood that, and I will be speaking with him in the near future.”
The U.S. president added that he shares Walz’s goal of making Minnesota better.
