Obama defends Omar as Trump admin investigates citizenship

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 18:13 · Archive

Former President Barack Obama accused the Trump administration of targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar over her criticism of the president.

Former President Barack Obama accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the federal government against political enemies in a post defending Rep. Ilhan Omar following an investigation into the progressive congresswoman's citizenship. Omar's Washington home was searched by federal agents as part of a criminal investigation into her immigration status.

Obama said Omar arrived in the United States at age twelve and automatically became a citizen at seventeen when her father was naturalized. He accused investigators of pursuing an 'unsubstantiated theory' that Omar was actually eighteen at the time, which would have required her to apply for citizenship separately. '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 on X. 'But that's exactly what the Trump Administration is doing.'

Obama wrote that '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'. According to reports, investigators are examining whether Omar or her father committed fraud on immigration paperwork when she became a citizen decades ago. The White House has not responded substantively to Obama's allegations.

How it is being reported

• Obama backs Ilhan Omar amid probe, accuses Trump admin of weaponizing federal government: ‘So appalling’Former President Barack Obama accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the federal government against its political enemies amid an investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar.New York Post · 18 Oct, 17:55
• Obama backs Ilhan Omar amid probe, accuses Trump admin of 'appalling' targeting in lengthy statementFormer President Barack Obama accused the Trump administration of politically targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., in a blistering social media post, alleging that federal officials are engaged in "appalling" actions by attempting to strip the progressive congresswoman of her U.S. citizenship and…Fox News · 18 Oct, 15:38

In this story: Barack Obama · Ilhan Omar · Donald Trump · Minnesota · Washington, D.C.

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