President Donald Trump called for Rep. Ilhan Omar’s imprisonment or deportation in a post on Truth Social on January 18, 2026. This marks an intensification in his ongoing criticism of the Minnesota congresswoman, particularly in light of her critique of his administration’s immigration enforcement practices.
Trump, 79, stated in his post that Omar “should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia.” He linked the congresswoman to supposed fraud schemes in Minnesota without providing any evidence of her involvement. He also reiterated a previous accusation that Omar married her brother, an allegation Omar has consistently denied as “absolutely false and ridiculous.”
The former president’s post followed Omar’s reminder to voters that Minnesota has voted against him in three separate elections. Omar, 43, has been highly critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, especially following the shooting death of Minneapolis, Minnesota mom Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, which she referred to as murder.
Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000 at 17 years old. She escaped the civil war in Somalia as a child, spending four years in a Kenyan refugee camp before immigrating to the U.S. Trump’s proposition that she should be deported raises constitutional issues since American citizens cannot legally be deprived of their citizenship and expelled from the country.
Trump alluded to $19 billion in alleged fraud in Minnesota, suggesting that Omar “knows everything there is to know.” In a separate post, he stated that Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Walz “should be in cuffs,” despite the absence of any accusations against Omar or Walz related to the fraud schemes. The fraud accusations involve billing for unprovided social services, with estimates indicating over $1 billion in stolen state funds across numerous cases. Trump shared an article about Somali-Americans transporting cash from Atlanta, Georgia, and Columbus, Ohio, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, en route to Dubai, UAE.
Omar is part of the Democratic “Squad,” a progressive group that includes Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley. In 2019, Trump suggested that Squad members “go back” to where they came from, a comment that drew widespread condemnation as racist. His comment targeted four women of color in Congress, all of whom are American citizens.
Trump’s attention on Omar has heightened in recent weeks, amidst scrutiny of her personal finances. Based on her most recent financial disclosure forms, it appears she and her husband Tim Mynett have a net worth between $6 million and $30 million. Omar has faced accusations of failing to adequately disclose assets, including her husband’s interest in a venture capital firm valued between $5 million and $25 million.
As a congresswoman, Omar earns a salary of $174,000. Both her political opponents and media outlets have highlighted questions about her apparent increase in wealth, although Omar has challenged descriptions of her financial situation.
On Christmas Day, Trump shared content featuring former Fox News host Megyn Kelly discussing Omar’s citizenship. However, the legal grounds for questioning the citizenship of a naturalized American who has maintained that status for over two decades remain unclear.
In a message posted on January 14, 2026, Trump reiterated his demand that Omar and others “should be thrown out of the USA,” again raising the brother marriage claim.
Omar’s criticism of ICE has centered around the agency’s enforcement actions in Minneapolis and other Minnesota communities. Good’s murder has become a contentious issue in the debate over immigration enforcement tactics. Representative Omar has called for a comprehensive investigation of the incident.
The relationship between Trump and Omar has been contentious since she joined Congress. Trump has frequently targeted her at rallies and in social media posts, often associating her with Somalia, despite her long-standing American citizenship.
As a Squad member, Omar is part of a group that has attracted significant attention from conservative critics who perceive their progressive policies as diverging from mainstream American politics. The four congresswomen have championed policies including Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and criminal justice reform.
Trump’s posts on Sunday night and subsequent days reflect his ongoing focus on immigration enforcement and allegations of fraud in Minnesota, a state that has consistently not supported him in presidential elections. His rhetoric has been amplified as ICE operations in the state have sparked protests and criticism from local government and community members.
