President Donald Trump on Monday branded Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) as “totally crooked,” his first public comments after federal agents searched the congresswoman’s Washington, D.C., residence as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
Speaking to reporters before departing the White House for Ohio, Trump said he was aware of the probe but insisted he had no role in it. “Well, I understand they’re looking at her very carefully,” he said. “I’ve always found her to be totally crooked personally, but that has nothing to do with me.”
He added: “I think she’s a terrible person, but that’s really up to the DOJ. I have nothing to do with it.”
The search was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the Justice Department. In a statement, the department described the operation as “part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation” but provided no further details.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters the investigation centers on alleged immigration fraud, specifically concerning portions of Omar’s immigration paperwork that were completed by her father when she was a child. Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
Omar responded sharply on social media, denouncing the raid as “political intimidation.” In a post on X, she wrote: “I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, [President] Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation.”
The raid comes roughly a month after White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed a federal criminal investigation involving Omar. During an appearance on Fox News, Homan said: “If someone committed an immigration violation, if someone committed marriage fraud or anything like that, regardless if they’re a congressman or not, no one’s above the law. So, I’ll leave it at that. We’ll let HSI, Homeland Security Investigations, continue the investigation.”
Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly targeted Omar, a vocal critic of the administration and a member of the progressive “Squad” in the House. The president has also frequently attacked Somalia and Somali-Americans in Minnesota. Last week, he wrote on Truth Social: “The once Great State of Minnesota is being taken over by Somali Immigrants. There is Violence, Murder, and Mayhem all over the State. The people of Minnesota must fight back.”
Earlier this year, after Trump called Omar “garbage,” she fired back: “His obsession with me is creepy. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.”
Democrats have rallied to Omar’s defense, with some accusing the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement to retaliate against political opponents. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) called the raid ‘insanely corrupt’, while others have suggested the timing is intended to intimidate voters before the election. The controversy is likely to intensify as the investigation proceeds.
