Obama calls Trump officials’ investigation of Ilhan Omar ‘appalling’
Key Points:
- Former President Barack Obama condemned the federal raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington, D.C. home, calling it a "transparent" attempt by the Trump administration to intimidate her for criticizing the president.
- The raid, part of an investigation into Omar, who has been outspoken against Trump, raised concerns due to its timing near midterm elections and during a federal holiday.
- Obama criticized efforts to deport Omar based on unsubstantiated claims about her citizenship status, highlighting the seizure of her personal records and phone as an attempt to find a "nonexistent smoking gun."
- Omar described the raid as political intimidation linked to Trump's longstanding attacks against her, while Trump denied involvement and labeled Omar "a terrible person."
- Obama warned that such tactics threaten democratic norms and could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations targeting political opponents.