Quick Answer: Former President Barack Obama on Sunday publicly condemned the Trump administration’s criminal investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s citizenship, calling it “appalling” weaponization of the federal government. Obama said investigators are pursuing an “unsubstantiated theory” about decades-old immigration paperwork — and warned that if this becomes “the new normal,” it won’t “stop with her.”
Former President Barack Obama broke his public silence Sunday to defend Rep. Ilhan Omar against what he called a politically motivated federal investigation, in one of his sharpest public rebukes of the Trump administration this year.
In a lengthy statement posted on X, Obama accused the administration of trying to strip the Minnesota Democrat of her U.S. citizenship and deport her — not because of any proven wrongdoing, he argued, but because she is “one of the Trump Administration’s fiercest critics.”
Key Takeaways
- Obama posted a 400+ word statement Sunday condemning the federal probe into Ilhan Omar’s citizenship as “appalling.”
- The former president said the administration is relying on an “unsubstantiated theory” that Omar was 18 — not 17 — when her father was naturalized.
- Federal agents raided Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on Oct. 12, seizing her phone and passport; no charges have been filed.
- White House border czar Tom Homan countered that investigators have a “strong case,” without presenting evidence publicly.
What Obama Said in His Ilhan Omar Statement
“It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say,” Obama wrote. “But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.”
Obama devoted much of the statement to the facts of Omar’s citizenship history as he understands them: she arrived in the United States with her father at age 12 and automatically became a citizen at 17 when her father was naturalized — meaning, under the citizenship laws then in effect, she did not need to apply separately. Investigators, he said, are now chasing an “unsubstantiated theory” that she was actually 18 at the time, which would have required a separate citizenship application.
“The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president,” Obama wrote, adding: “To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts.”
The intervention is notable partly because of history: Trump spent years promoting the false “birther” claim that Obama himself was not born in the United States, despite Obama being born in Hawaii. Obama rarely weighs in directly on administration controversies, and his decision to do so now signals how seriously he views the precedent, allies said.
The Federal Investigation: What Is Confirmed
Federal agents raided Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on Oct. 12, seizing items including her cellphone and passport. The raid is part of a criminal investigation into immigration fraud and questions about citizenship paperwork Omar’s late father prepared in 1995. Several of Omar’s relatives have received grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department, according to reporting by Fox News Digital. Neither Omar nor any family member has been charged.
Sources previously told Fox News Digital that investigators are examining whether Omar or her father committed fraud on immigration paperwork when she became a U.S. citizen decades ago. Omar, who was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000, called the raid “an outrageous abuse of power” intended to intimidate the president’s political enemies.
Two things remain uncertain: the exact evidence the government holds, and whether prosecutors will ever bring charges. The investigation has drawn fire from civil-liberties advocates who say it echoes a broader pattern of targeting administration critics.
White House Pushes Back
White House border czar Tom Homan defended the raid Saturday, telling Fox News he has been told investigators have a “strong case” — though no evidence has been made public. “If she violated the law, then she’ll be held accountable,” Homan said, adding that he would not get ahead of the Homeland Security Investigations team leading the probe.
The standoff arrives with midterm elections weeks away — see our coverage of Trump’s record-low approval ratings in the latest NBC poll — and with the administration locked in multiple high-stakes political fights abroad. Whether Obama’s statement quiets the controversy or escalates it is now the open question. To recap what happened to Ilhan Omar today: Obama’s statement landed Sunday, capping a week that began with the Oct. 12 raid on her home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Obama defending Ilhan Omar?
Obama says the Trump administration is targeting Omar for her political criticism, not for proven wrongdoing. He called the citizenship probe an “appalling” misuse of federal power and warned it could set a dangerous precedent for going after other critics.
Is Ilhan Omar a U.S. citizen?
Yes. Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Obama explained that she arrived in the U.S. with her father at 12 and automatically acquired citizenship at 17 when her father was naturalized. Investigators are pursuing an unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 at the time — a claim Obama rejects.
What happened in the Ilhan Omar home raid?
On Oct. 12, federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., home and seized her cellphone and passport as part of a probe into decades-old immigration paperwork. Several relatives received grand jury subpoenas. No charges have been filed against Omar or anyone in her family.
Has the White House responded to Obama’s statement?
Border czar Tom Homan said Saturday that investigators have a “strong case,” but no evidence has been publicly presented. The White House has not directly answered Obama’s charge that the probe is politically motivated.
Sources: Axios; Fox News; New York Post. This is a developing story.
