WASHINGTON D.C Dec 14, 2025 – In a pointed critique aired on CBS affiliate WCCO Monday morning, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) described President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown as “really disturbing and creepy,” accusing the administration of using bigotry as a distraction from broader policy failures.
The Minnesota congresswoman, who represents the state’s 5th District and has long been a vocal advocate for immigrant rights, made the remarks during a live interview from her district office, decorated festively with a Christmas tree amid the winter chill. Omar, speaking against a backdrop of holiday lights and Minnesota icons, framed the president’s focus on deportations and border enforcement as a personal vendetta.
“It is really disturbing and creepy to have the President of the United States be obsessed with you and those who share your ethnicity,” Omar said, her voice steady but laced with frustration. “I know that he’s deflecting from the failures of his presidency. He’d rather scapegoat us than answer for why people can’t afford their lives.”
Omar’s comments come amid a flurry of executive actions by the Trump administration aimed at ramping up deportations, including expanded ICE operations targeting undocumented immigrants and heightened rhetoric against “sanctuary cities.” Critics, including Omar, argue these moves echo unfulfilled campaign promises from Trump’s 2024 reelection bid, where he pledged sweeping border reforms but has faced legal challenges and logistical hurdles in implementation.
In the interview, Omar ticked off a litany of unmet commitments, from soaring costs of living to agricultural woes. “Why has he not fulfilled his promise of creating a more affordable America?” she asked. “He doesn’t want to answer for the possible war crimes of shooting down those boats in the Caribbean… He wants to continue to protect pedophiles” – a reference to ongoing speculation about unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files – “and certainly, he doesn’t want to answer why soybean farmers are struggling here under not just tariffs but the fact that he bailed out Argentina to the tune of $48 billion.”
The congresswoman, who immigrated to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia, tied the immigration push directly to ethnic targeting. “He wants to answer the questions about the failures of his administration,” she concluded. “He keeps the bigotry, and we know this playbook.”
Omar shared a clip of the interview on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after it aired, captioning it: “Trump is failing to deliver on his promises. And what does he do when he fails? He cues the bigotry.” The post quickly garnered over 4,000 views, 85 likes, and more than 130 replies, sparking a polarized online debate. Supporters praised her for calling out what they see as divisive tactics, while detractors accused her of downplaying border security concerns and reignited long-standing calls for investigations into her own immigration history.
This isn’t the first time Omar has clashed with Trump over immigration. During his first term, the president frequently targeted her on social media, labeling the “Squad” – a progressive group of female lawmakers including Omar – as un-American. In response, Omar has consistently defended comprehensive reform, including pathways to citizenship and protections for Dreamers.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed Omar’s remarks as “partisan hyperbole,” emphasizing in a statement that “President Trump’s policies are laser-focused on securing our borders and prioritizing American workers – actions that have already reduced illegal crossings by 40% since January.”
As the holiday season unfolds, Omar’s interview underscores deepening partisan rifts over immigration, with Democrats decrying it as fearmongering and Republicans hailing it as necessary enforcement. Advocacy groups like the ACLU have vowed legal challenges to upcoming deportation waves, while farm-state lawmakers from both parties echo Omar’s concerns about trade tariffs’ ripple effects on rural economies.
Omar, undeterred, told CBS she plans to introduce legislation next session aimed at shielding immigrant communities from what she calls “scapegoating raids.” “This isn’t just about policy,” she said. “It’s about who we are as a nation.”
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