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Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar has publicly accused President Donald Trump of endangering her safety through his rhetoric, just one day after being attacked with an unknown liquid at a Minneapolis event. The incident highlights growing concerns about political violence amid an increasingly polarized national climate.
“Every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket,” Omar stated during a press conference Wednesday. When questioned about potential fears of public appearances, she firmly responded, “Fear and intimidation doesn’t work on me.”
The assault occurred during a particularly tense period in Minneapolis, where two individuals have been fatally shot by federal agents as part of the White House’s intensified immigration enforcement operations. Omar, who came to the United States as a refugee from Somalia, has long been a target of Trump’s anti-immigrant comments.
Police arrested Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, after he allegedly used a syringe to squirt a brown liquid on Omar during an event where she called for ICE to be abolished and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s firing following the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Law enforcement officers immediately tackled the suspect, but authorities have not yet publicly identified the liquid substance.
Kazmierczak has a criminal history including a felony auto theft conviction in 1989, multiple DUI arrests, and numerous traffic citations. Social media posts linked to him show support for Trump and criticism of Democrats, with one post claiming Trump “wants the US is stronger and more prosperous” and another containing racially charged comments about slavery reparations.
The White House declined to comment on the incident, while Trump baselessly suggested Omar had staged the attack, telling ABC News, “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
Omar has faced safety concerns throughout her congressional tenure. After Trump’s initial social media attacks during her first year in Congress, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requested a security review from Capitol Police, resulting in round-the-clock protection for Omar and her family.
“I wouldn’t be where I am at today, having to pay for security, having the government have to think about providing me security, if Donald Trump wasn’t in office and if he wasn’t so obsessed with me,” Omar said Wednesday.
Trump has intensified criticism of Omar in recent months while focusing on the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, home to approximately 84,000 people of Somali descent—nearly one-third of all Somalis living in the United States. He has frequently connected the Twin Cities immigration enforcement operations to fraud cases involving government programs where many defendants have East African origins.
The attack on Omar follows another recent incident involving a Democratic lawmaker. Just days earlier, Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida was allegedly punched in the face at a private Sundance Film Festival party by a man who reportedly said, “we are going to deport you and your kind.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat who experienced an armed man threatening her and her husband at their Seattle home in 2022, expressed solidarity with Omar. “It has to stop. I mean, we are just trying to do our jobs, and it could be quieted and could be called out by Trump and leaders in elected office who refuse to go along with it, but they continue to do it, and this is the consequence,” Jayapal told the Associated Press.
According to the U.S. Capitol Police, threats against members of Congress have risen significantly in recent years, peaking in 2021 following the January 6 Capitol attack before declining slightly, only to climb again.
Rep. Greg Casar, a Texas Democrat who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus that Omar has been leading during his paternity leave, described the congresswoman as “tough as nails” and called for Trump to moderate his rhetoric. “Almost all of us receive very regular threats,” Casar noted. “The point of what these violent actors want is for us to shut up and we just can’t give in to that.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Kazmierczak had not been formally charged or scheduled for an initial court appearance. The Minneapolis Police Department announced that the FBI has taken over the investigation.
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10 Comments
This is a concerning incident that highlights the dangerous rhetoric and atmosphere we’ve seen in recent years. While I don’t condone violence, it’s understandable that Rep. Omar would feel her safety is at risk given the president’s inflammatory comments about her and her community. Elected officials should be able to do their jobs without fear of attack.
I agree, the increase in death threats is very troubling. Politicians should be able to express their views without facing harassment or violence, regardless of political affiliation.
This is a disturbing event that highlights the increasingly polarized and divisive political climate in the US. While I may not agree with all of Rep. Omar’s policy positions, I believe strongly in the importance of free speech and the ability of elected officials to engage in the democratic process without fear of violence or retaliation. We need to find ways to have robust, respectful debates about the issues facing our country, without resorting to personal attacks or threats.
I share your concern about the growing political tensions and the need for greater civility in our discourse. Attacks on elected officials, regardless of their political affiliation, are unacceptable and undermine the foundations of our democracy. We must find ways to engage in substantive policy debates without resorting to hateful rhetoric or threats of violence.
This is a troubling event that speaks to the increasingly polarized and volatile political climate in the US. While I may not agree with all of Rep. Omar’s policy positions, I believe strongly in the importance of free speech and the ability of elected officials to engage in the democratic process without fear of violence or retaliation. Escalating rhetoric and attacks like this are counterproductive and only serve to deepen divisions.
I couldn’t agree more. We need to find ways to have robust, respectful debates about the issues facing our country, without resorting to personal attacks or threats. Elected officials from all parties should be able to express their views freely and safely.
This incident is deeply troubling and speaks to the need for greater civility and respect in our political discourse. While I may not align with Rep. Omar on every issue, I believe strongly in the right of all elected officials to express their views without fear of violence or intimidation. We must find ways to engage in substantive policy debates without resorting to hateful rhetoric or personal attacks.
I agree, the increase in political violence and threats is a concerning trend that undermines the foundations of our democracy. Elected officials should be able to do their jobs without fear of retribution, regardless of their political affiliation or views.
Attacks like this are never acceptable, regardless of one’s political views. While I may not agree with all of Rep. Omar’s positions, I believe strongly in the democratic process and the right of all elected officials to speak freely without fear of retribution. This incident is a disturbing sign of the growing divisions in our country.
I share your concerns about the divisive rhetoric and growing political tensions in the US. Attacks on elected officials set a dangerous precedent and undermine our democratic institutions. We need to find ways to engage in substantive policy debates without resorting to personal attacks or threats of violence.