Former President Trump Calls for Removal of Muslim Democratic Representatives; Omar's Guest Arrested at State of the Union

Former US President Donald Trump stated that two Muslim Democratic politicians, Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar and Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib, should be sent back "where they came from." This comment followed a heated exchange during his State of the Union address.

During the address, both representatives criticized his immigration enforcement policies:

Ms. Omar called him a "liar" and both stated he was "killing Americans."

Both Ms. Omar and Ms. Tlaib are US citizens.

Trump's Description of Politicians

On Truth Social, Mr. Trump further described the two politicians:

"bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, look like they should be institutionalized."

Reactions to Trump's Rhetoric

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries characterized Trump's rhetoric as "xenophobic" and "disgraceful." Ms. Tlaib commented on X that Trump's statements indicated he was "crashing out." The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also described Trump's comments as racist.

Incident During State of the Union Address

Separately, Representative Omar reported that her State of the Union guest, Aliya Rahman, a US citizen previously detained by federal immigration officers, was charged with unlawful conduct.

Ms. Rahman stated she stood silently in the gallery during the speech:

She was forcibly removed, suffering injuries due to aggressive handling despite warning officers about her injured shoulders. She was later charged with "Unlawful Conduct."

Capitol Police stated that Ms. Rahman was arrested for "demonstrating" in the gallery, noting that State of the Union tickets prohibit such actions.

They reported she refused to obey lawful orders to sit down, leading to her arrest for "Disruption of Congress."

Broader Context: Immigration Enforcement Policies

Contextually, the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions have faced criticism, including in January following two deaths involving federal agents in Minnesota. During his State of the Union speech, Trump reiterated accusations of fraud within Somali communities in the US and claimed "Somali pirates" had ransacked Minnesota. Rights groups argue that the administration uses isolated fraud cases to target immigrants and that the crackdown fosters a fearful environment.