Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is drawing criticism after a fiery interview in which she likened the United States under President Trump to a dictatorship.
Omar blasted Trump and America over the president’s decision to deploy military troops to Los Angeles to quell the violent rioting without the approval of California state officials.
Speaking from the U.S. Capitol during an appearance on the left-leaning show “Democracy Now!,” Omar blasted the president’s actions as unconstitutional and inflammatory, accusing him of creating a “police state.”
“We are in the midst of the creation of a police state where you have masked, armed men who are in plain clothes that are snatching people off the streets, unwilling to identify themselves,” Omar said.
“You have the military being deployed in our streets.
“My God, this is America.”
She continued, “The same week where we have a president who has deployed the military — who are trained to kill our enemies, not Americans — are in our streets!”
Omar also took aim at the president’s decision to hold a military parade in Washington, D.C., to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
In an attack against Trump and America’s military, Omar claimed the event was reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.
“Can you imagine that image that is going to be coming out of our country?” Somalia-born Omar said.
“I mean, I grew up in a dictatorship, and I don’t even remember ever witnessing anything like that.”
The congresswoman added that the deployment of U.S. troops on domestic soil, particularly without coordination with state leaders, undermines constitutional protections and betrays the country’s values.
“To have a democracy, a beacon of hope for the world, to now be turned into one of the worst countries — where the military are in our streets without any regard to people’s constitutional rights — while our president is spending millions of dollars propping himself up like a failed dictator with a military parade, it is really shocking,” she said.
“It should be a wake-up call for all Americans.”
WATCH:
The president’s emergency order to send federal troops into Los Angeles has sparked a legal showdown with California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.
Newsom, who is expected to make a bid for the White House in 2028, claims the move violates the 10th Amendment and encroaches on state sovereignty.
Supporters of the president argue that the federal government is well within its rights to respond to escalating violence, including reported attacks on federal agents and looting during large-scale protests.
“The president is acting decisively to restore law and order where local leaders have failed,” a White House official said earlier this week.
“The protection of federal property and the safety of American citizens are not optional.”
Omar’s comments quickly circulated on social media, meanwhile.
Critics are calling her remarks inflammatory and irresponsible during a time of heightened national tension.
Others defended her as standing up against alleged government overreach.
READ MORE – James Carville: Radical Democrats like Ilhan Omar Are ‘More Trouble Than They’re Worth’
