Ilhan Omar made history in January when she became the first Somali American and one of the first Muslim women sworn into the US Congress.
Part of a historically diverse crop of candidates elected in the 2018 midterms, the hijab-wearing Minnesotan has become one of the faces of change in Donald Trump’s America, a country she entered as a 12-year-old refugee.
But in less than two months, she has also found herself at the center of controversy, reckoning with the scrutiny that accompanies the national spotlight.
This week, Omar was forced to apologize for comments that Democratic leaders said contained “antisemitic tropes and prejudicial accusations”. Days later, her intense grilling of Elliott Abrams, a Trump official and longtime establishment figure, sparked headlines once again.
Omar has emerged as a key bogeyman for Republicans, who have relentlessly attacked her views on Israeli-Palestinian relations.
“Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has quickly created a reputation for herself as a young, bold progressive willing to take on and challenge some of Washington DC’s sacred cows, powerful interest groups and conservative godfathers like Elliot Abrams,” said Wajahat Ali, a New York Times opinion writer and commentator.
“This is why her diverse base elected her, why she continues to inspire progressives and it’s a testament to what they expect from her – demanding accountability, oversight and calling everyone out, unapologetically.”
But, Ali added, “she’s learning it goes both ways”. He also noted that Omar’s brush with controversy “shows she’s a bit green and needs to be more sensitive with her language”.
“She apologized, it seems she gets it,” he said. “But, there’s also a target on her because she’s Muslim and black woman. Let’s not fool ourselves.”
Since her ascent to Congress, Omar’s positions on Israel, one of America’s closest allies, have stirred controversy for breaking with longstanding tradition in Washington.
Omar has backed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement, or BDS, which is designed to pressure Israel into ending the occupation of the West Bank. She has said she “almost chuckle[s]” when US politicians uphold Israel as a democratic example. But a recent tweet suggesting US support for Israel is motivated by political donations invited backlash from both parties.
“It’s all about the Benjamins, baby,” Omar tweeted in response to a Republican leader vowing action against her and Rashida Tlaib, another Muslim congresswoman, over their criticism of the Israeli government.
The comment invoked the $100 bill, which features Benjamin Franklin, and led a Jewish journalist to ask Omar who she believed was “paying American politicians to be pro-Israel”. She pointed to the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee or Aipac, an influential pro-Israel lobby group that does not contribute to political campaigns but does fund educational trips to Israel for members of Congress and staff members.
Following a rebuke from party leaders, Omar apologized “unequivocally” and said she had not intended to perpetuate Jewish stereotypes. She nonetheless stood by her argument that the “problematic role of lobbyists” in US politics must be addressed.
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