It’s been a long week for Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar—first, she was told by the president to “go back” to her home country of Somalia rather than criticize his policies, and then she faced chants of “send her back” from the crowd at one of Trump’s rallies. Still, none of that seemed to dampen her spirits as she returned home to Minnesota on Thursday. A crowd of nearly 100 supporters greeted her with chants of “welcome home, Ilhan” in a touching display of solidarity.
I�m still emotional after being there to welcome @IlhanMN HOME. Hundreds of people chanting �Welcome home, Ilhan!� was exactly what I needed to restore some faith in humanity. #IStandWithIlhan#WelcomeHomeIlhanpic.twitter.com/OTPSIc7feS
July 18, 2019
*This* is America.#WelcomeHomeIlhan was chanted as Congresswoman @Ilhan arrived home to the Twin Cities this evening. pic.twitter.com/S088GQddwJ
July 19, 2019
� What side are you on, my people. We�re on the freedom side. #IStandWithIlhan#WelcomeHomeIlhanpic.twitter.com/11b6CCJJKq
July 18, 2019
Shortly after her flight, Rep. Omar told her supporters, “The reality is everybody talks about how [Trump] is threatened because we criticize him. But the reality is he is threatened because we are inspiring people to dream about a country that recognizes our dignity and our humanity.”
The love kept pouring in throughout the evening, when more supporters joined Rep. Omar at a healthcare town hall in south Minneapolis.
Rep. Ilhan Omar takes questions at a Medicare for All town hall July 18, 2019.
The crowd at Rep. Omar’s Medicare for All town hall in Minnesota July 18, 2019.
The show of support seems to already be getting under Trump’s skin. Thursday, he buckled to media pressure and began to distance himself from the chants at his rallies, first claiming that he had tried to stop the chant—and then doubling down, claiming there was nothing wrong with the chant to begin with.
Friday morning, he attacked her on Twitter, calling the videos of her homecoming “staged” and complaining about the media’s focus on his racist comments throughout the week. He even introduced a new nickname for her, “Foul Mouthed Omar”—it’s unclear if this is a reference to her repeating his own quotes verbatim earlier in the week, or if he has confused her with Rep. Tlaib.
It is amazing how the Fake News Media became âÂ�Â�crazedâÂ�Â� over the chant âÂ�Â�send her backâÂ�Â� by a packed Arena (a record) crowd in the Great State of North Carolina, but is totally calm & accepting of the most vile and disgusting statements made by the three Radical Left Congresswomen…
July 19, 2019
….Mainstream Media, which has lost all credibility, has either officially or unofficially become a part of the Radical Left Democrat Party. It is a sick partnership, so pathetic to watch! They even covered a tiny staged crowd as they greeted Foul Mouthed Omar in Minnesota, a…
July 19, 2019
….State which I will win in #2020 because they canâÂ�Â�t stand her and her hatred of our Country, and they appreciate all that I have done for them (opening up mining and MUCH more) which has led to the best employment & economic year in MinnesotaâÂ�Â�s long and beautiful history!
July 19, 2019
In a quote from MPR News, Rep. Omar described Trump’s reactions throughout the week: “His nightmare is seeing the beautiful mosaic fabric of our country welcome someone like me as their member of Congress. We are going to continue being a nightmare to this president because his policies are a nightmare to us.”
