U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, was the target of an assault at a town hall event in Minneapolis on January 27, 2026. She was speaking to constituents about immigration policy and criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when a man in the audience suddenly rushed toward her and sprayed an unknown liquid from a syringe in her direction. Omar, who was not injured, was startled but remained standing as security quickly tackled and restrained the man before he could do more. Police later arrested the suspect and charged him with third-degree assault.
The attack happened during a tense political moment. Omar had been openly calling for the abolition of ICE and urging the resignation or impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as part of her criticism of the federal government’s actions in Minnesota. She was also speaking in the shadow of recent controversial incidents in the state, including the deaths of two people in interactions with federal immigration enforcement agents, which have sparked protests and strong reactions.
Video footage of the incident showed the man approaching Omar from the audience and spraying the substance toward her while shouting something that wasn’t immediately clear. People near the front row reacted with shock as the event unfolded. Witnesses described the liquid as having a strong smell, though authorities have not publicly identified what it was. Local police said forensic teams were collecting evidence and investigating the incident.
Despite the attack, Omar paused only briefly. Although aides and security urged her to get medical attention, she chose to continue addressing the crowd. She told constituents that she was okay and showed resilience, later posting on social media that her experience in life — including surviving a civil war in Somalia as a child — has taught her not to back down from threats or intimidation. “We are Minnesota strong,” she said, emphasizing her determination to carry on.
News of the assault spread quickly, and responses from political leaders were swift and varied. Many lawmakers from both parties condemned the attack and called for calm, stressing that physical violence has no role in politics. Leaders from both Democratic and Republican sides warned that disagreements over policy should never lead to harm or intimidation against elected officials.
Amid the broad media coverage, former President Donald Trump, a Republican and frequent critic of Omar, made a striking and controversial comment about the town hall incident. Trump publicly claimed — without evidence — that the attack might have been staged and suggested that Omar “probably had herself sprayed” with the liquid. He also called her a “fraud” and repeated past criticisms of her. Trump admitted in interviews that he had not seen video of the event before making these comments.
Trump’s statement drew strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who called the suggestion that Omar staged the attack “disgusting” and warned that such unfounded claims could fuel more threats or violence. Jeffries and others stressed the need for responsible public language, especially when tensions are already high.
Omar has long been a polarizing figure in U.S. politics and has previously faced intense public scrutiny and hostile rhetoric, particularly from Trump and some of his supporters. As one of the first Muslim women in Congress and a Somali-American, she has been targeted with harsh language and false allegations in the past. The town hall incident underscored concerns about rising political hostility and threats against elected officials.
Authorities continue to investigate the attack, and the suspect remains in custody. The broader political debate around immigration, enforcement, and public safety in Minnesota is ongoing. Many local leaders and national figures have urged unity and civil discourse in response to the event.
