President Donald Trump said Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) should be removed from the United States during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Tuesday [1].
The comments highlight the ongoing friction between the executive branch and members of Congress who represent immigrant communities, and minority groups.
Trump said the congresswoman during the event in Washington, D.C. [1]. He described Omar as a "low IQ person" and suggested she does not belong in the country [2].
During the tirade, Trump said, "She Oughta Get the Hell Out of Our Country!" [1]. He said she "should be thrown the hell out of our country" and should not be allowed to serve in Congress [1].
The president's remarks referenced Omar's Somali heritage as a basis for his assertions that she should leave the U.S. [2].
Rep. Omar responded to the president's comments by challenging his own intelligence. Omar said, "This should tell you how low IQ he is" [3].
While most reports place the remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, one report said the comments occurred during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday [2].
“"She Oughta Get the Hell Out of Our Country!"”
This exchange underscores a persistent rhetorical strategy by President Trump to question the legitimacy and citizenship of political opponents from immigrant backgrounds. By targeting a sitting member of Congress with demands for her removal from the country, the President challenges the norms of legislative tenure and the status of naturalized citizens in public office.
