Former President Donald Trump, speaking at a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday, called for the immediate resignation and disqualification of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN). Trump alleged that the Minnesota congresswoman won her election and was sworn into office using a “false name,” a claim he suggested should lead to her immediate removal from the House of Representatives by Republican leadership.
Addressing a crowd of supporters, Trump asserted that federal prosecutors had identified the congresswoman as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi” in a recent court filing. Based on this identification, Trump argued that her tenure in the chamber was illegitimate and based on a fraudulent premise. “So it’s not looking good because she used a fake name to be sworn in,” Trump told the audience. “I assume she must immediately have to resign from Congress.”
The former president specifically directed his remarks toward House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), whom he referred to during the speech by the name “James Michael Johnson.” Trump urged his associates and supporters to ensure the Speaker was informed that Omar’s seat should be considered vacated by the Democratic Party.
“Please inform our great speaker of the House of Representatives, James Michael Johnson … that the Democrat party has just conceded her seat, that Ilhan Nur Said Elmi — her real name — has openly admitted to fraud,” Trump stated. He further claimed that she “will not be legally allowed to be a member of that august body any longer.” Trump expressed skepticism about the legality of her continued service, adding, “If you get sworn in with a false name, I would imagine that’s pretty tough to remain.”
Beyond the allegations regarding her legal name, Trump also targeted Omar’s response to long-standing and controversial questions regarding her personal history. He specifically criticized her reaction to inquiries about whether she had ever been married to her brother.
Trump mocked a specific answer he attributed to the congresswoman during the rally. “When asked whether or not she married her brother today, they asked her, ‘Did you marry your brother?’ She said, ‘Not to my knowledge,’” Trump recounted to the Sioux City crowd. “That’s one of the worst answers I think I’ve ever heard. You know, I’ve heard some bad political answers. I could go over a lot of them, but that would be about the worst.”
The dispute involving Representative Omar is expected to remain a point of contention in the coming months. Legal proceedings, including various charges, court hearings, and potential appeals, are likely to continue as the claims regarding her identity and past actions are scrutinized. Trump’s rhetoric in Iowa signals that these allegations will remain a prominent feature of his campaign messaging as he calls on House leadership to take formal action.
