Trump claims Rep. Ilhan Omar ‘staged’ town hall attack

Washington, USA — President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused Democratic lawmaker Ilhan Omar of staging an assault against herself, claiming without evidence that she was a “fraud,” even as police held a suspect for spraying her with an unknown chemical at a heated town hall.

The incident has inflamed tensions in a polarized Washington and shone a spotlight on rising political violence, coming just hours after Trump launched a fresh barrage of xenophobic attacks against the Somali-American congresswoman.

“I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud,” Trump told ABC News when reporters asked about the Tuesday night incident in Minneapolis. “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”

The president, who claimed he had not seen the video of the altercation, added, “I hope I don’t have to bother.”

Police contradict claims

Trump’s dismissal contradicted accounts from the Minneapolis Police Department, which confirmed the arrest of 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak at the scene.

Officers said the suspect rushed the stage and used a syringe to spray a liquid on the lawmaker before security and bystanders tackled him.

While forensic teams analyze the substance, witnesses reported a pungent, vinegar-like odor. However, Omar was uninjured and refused to cut her appearance short.

“I’ve survived war, and I’m definitely going to survive intimidation or whatever these people think they can throw at me,” Omar, a former refugee, told the crowd moments after the attack.

The assault occurred against a backdrop of seething unrest in Minnesota, where federal immigration enforcement operations have intensified under the Trump administration’s second term.

Omar had been addressing a packed room, calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the controversial shooting deaths of two Minneapolis residents—Renee Good and intensive care nurse Alex Pretti—during recent operations by immigration agents.

“These f*ing aholes are not going to get away with it,” Omar said, returning to the microphone after officers hauled the suspect away.

The White House has faced growing criticism over the “surge” in enforcement, and reports indicate the administration dispatched Border Czar Tom Homan to the region to “de-escalate” the situation.

Suspect’s criminal history

Police records indicate officers booked Kazmierczak into Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault.

US media reports on Wednesday revealed the suspect has a history of criminal convictions, including auto theft, and a substantial footprint of pro-Trump activity on social media.

Accounts linked to Kazmierczak frequently shared content from right-wing influencers and disparaged Democratic officials.

The attack appeared to follow a pattern of escalating rhetoric. Only hours before the town hall, President Trump singled out Omar during a speech in Iowa.

“She comes from a country that’s a disaster,” Trump told supporters, reviving attacks on Omar’s heritage that date back to his first term. “It’s considered, I think, the worst… It’s not even a country.”

The assault on Omar, a frequent target of the president’s ire since her election in 2018, underscores a dramatic rise in threats against US officials.

Rising political violence

The US Capitol Police (USCP) reported on Tuesday that they investigated nearly 15,000 “concerning statements and threats” against members of Congress in 2025—a roughly 57 percent increase from the previous year.

“We are now working with our federal partners to see this man faces the most serious charges possible,” the USCP said in a statement, calling the attack an “unacceptable decision.”

The incident drew swift condemnation from some Republicans, highlighting a fracture within the party regarding political violence.

“Regardless of political views, we should all agree this behavior crosses a line and cannot be tolerated,” wrote Republican Representative Mike Lawler on social media platform X.

Despite the bipartisan outcry, Trump remained defiant on Wednesday, doubling down on his characterization of the congresswoman as the “fraud” in the narrative.

Omar, however, signaled she would not be silenced.

“I’m a survivor, so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work,” she wrote on X. “Minnesota strong.”