MINNEAPOLIS: US Representative Ilhan Omar was assaulted during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis when a man rushed toward the podium.
The suspect appeared to spray her with a clear liquid as she addressed constituents on the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the Department of Homeland Security.
Security personnel immediately tackled and restrained the attacker, who was taken into custody. Omar was visibly shaken but not injured, according to her office and local police. Authorities said the substance used in the attack has not yet been identified.
The disruption occurred as Omar was sharply criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, calling for her resignation or impeachment, and reiterating calls to abolish US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
US Representative Ilhan Omar was assaulted during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance while calling for the resignation or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem https://t.co/MQOg4Kczbc pic.twitter.com/67hSaCksVH
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) January 28, 2026
“We’re going to keep talking. Please, don’t let them have the show,” she said, adding that Minnesotans would remain resilient in the face of intimidation. She later said it was important to continue leading Democratic efforts to demand Noem’s resignation.
Minneapolis police said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault, while forensic teams processed the scene. No injuries were reported.
The incident came hours after US President Donald Trump criticized Omar during remarks in Iowa, making derogatory comments about her native Somalia and renewing personal attacks that have intensified in recent months. Omar, who arrived in the United States as a refugee before becoming a citizen, has previously accused Trump of racist and Islamophobic rhetoric.
Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the attack as “not a coincidence,” linking it to recent public attacks by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also condemned the assault, saying it followed years of incitement against Omar.
Posting later on X, Omar said she would not be intimidated, calling the attacker a “small agitator” and reaffirming her commitment to continue her work.
The episode has renewed concerns in Washington over political violence and inflammatory rhetoric as immigration remains a central and polarising issue in US public life.
