Her recent reply to a revived claim that she married her brother has gone viral, and it has led to strong discussions about identity, truth, politics, and hate speech.
The reaction from citizens, leaders, and supporters shows how one message on social media can lead to a national conversation.
The debate has also shown how online discussions have replaced traditional political forums, especially among young people.
Ilhan Omar has represented Minnesota in the House of Representatives since 2019. She came to the United States as a refugee from Somalia and is one of the few Muslim women holding public office at the national level.
Omar has faced several accusations, insults, and strong statements from critics since her first campaign. One of the repeated accusations has been the claim that she married her brother to assist him in getting legal papers.
This claim was raised years ago, investigated, denied, and confirmed as false. Even so, the claim has continued to appear whenever political debates become heated.
The discussion recently returned when former President Donald Trump criticised Omar during a meeting. He questioned her role in Congress and even mocked her community.
He also raised concerns about Somali immigrants in Minnesota and suggested that the local government was not managing immigration properly.
During his remarks, Trump described Omar as someone who should not be a leader. His remarks spread quickly across political channels and social platforms.
Ilhan Omar did not remain silent. She reacted on her social media page and called Trump’s interest in her “creepy.” Her reply reached millions of viewers within hours.
Her followers praised her for standing up to political pressure. However, her critics used the moment to repeat the old claim that she married her brother. When a White House communication page again raised the question, Omar responded strongly.
She wrote that she did not marry her brother and asked whether the United States President was a pedophile.
Her reply shocked many people and spread even faster across the internet. Within a short time, her post had millions of views.
Her statement was connected by many citizens to past controversies involving Trump. Those controversies include his name appearing in documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein, a businessman who was accused of serious crimes.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. However, Omar’s suggestion reopened that story publicly. The online audience, including journalists, lawyers, and politicians, began discussing the wider meaning of her response.
Omar’s critics reacted immediately. Some said she was disrespectful and was trying to deflect attention. Others claimed that she was using emotional language to avoid answering questions. Still, she continued receiving support from fellow lawmakers.
Senator Bernie Sanders defended her by saying that attacks against Somali-American communities were harmful and were meant to divide Americans. Other leaders also stated that the repeated claim about her marriage was unfair and had already been proven false.
The entire conversation showed how modern politics works, especially online. Leaders no longer wait for formal statements or interviews. Instead, they use social media because posts reach people quickly.
Omar’s reply showed that one sentence can reach millions of citizens instantly. It also showed how political arguments today often come from personal attacks rather than policy discussions.
Her supporters say that she is often attacked because she is a Muslim, an immigrant, and a strong woman. They argue that powerful individuals try to damage her image because she speaks openly about injustice, poverty, and unfair treatment of immigrants.
Many Somali-American citizens said that they face increased discrimination whenever her name is brought into national political debates. They also say that Omar represents their voice in government and that constant false claims hurt their community.
On the other side, her critics insist that leaders should answer questions calmly and respectfully. They believe that Omar’s statement crossed a line and should not have been directed at a president.