Trump: Ilhan Omar «probably had herself sprayed»

Donald Trump’s long-running hostility toward Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar showed no sign of easing after she was targeted in a frightening syringe attack while speaking at a town hall event in Minneapolis. At the moment of the incident, a visibly disturbed man rushed toward Omar and sprayed her with what was described at the time as an unknown liquid before being quickly restrained by security. Asked by reporters whether he had seen video of the attack, Trump said he «haven’t seen it», before dismissing the episode by adding that «she probably had herself sprayed», remarks that drew immediate criticism for minimizing the seriousness of the assault as details were still emerging.

In the widely shared video of the altercation at the Minneapolis town hall, a man seated in the front row suddenly confronts Representative Ilhan Omar as she speaks about Immigration and Customs Enforcement and calls for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to «resign or face impeachment» following recent controversial federal actions. As Omar addresses the audience, the man — later identified by police as 55-year-old Anthony James Kazmierczak — stands up, appears to shout toward her, and then sprays her with the contents of a syringe. Witnesses described the substance at the time as having a strong, acidic smell before security officers quickly tackled and restrained him.

Bystanders captured the incident on video and can be heard warning Omar that the liquid smelled bad and urging her to seek medical evaluation, a suggestion she immediately dismissed during the event. Authorities later identified the substance inside the syringe as apple cider vinegar, according to CNN. Omar addressed the incident shortly afterward on social media, writing that «I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win», emphasizing her determination to continue her political work despite the attack and the disruption caused by the confrontation.

Donald Trump, who for years has repeatedly and harshly attacked Representative Ilhan Omar, again dismissed the seriousness of the incident after she was assaulted at a town hall in Minneapolis. Trump has previously led chants of «Send her back» to Somalia, where Omar was born and suggested without evidence that she married her brother, among other things. Asked about the syringe attack, Trump said «I haven’t seen» the video and added «I hope I don’t have to bother», before asserting that «knowing her» she «probably had herself sprayed», accusing Omar of being «a fraud», according to ABC News. The man who attacked her was arrested at the scene, booked on third-degree assault, and is being held at the Hennepin County Jail, while Capitol Police are pursuing potential federal charges related to the attack on the Democratic lawmaker.