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President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after saying that two Democratic members of Congress, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, should be sent “back from where they came from.” His comments followed protests by the lawmakers during his State of the Union address.
During Tuesday night’s speech, Trump praised his administration’s immigration policies and defended his ongoing crackdown on undocumented immigrants. As he spoke about ending “sanctuary cities,” which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), several Democratic lawmakers voiced their opposition. Among them were Omar and Tlaib, who shouted, “You have killed Americans!” in response to Trump’s remarks.
The president reacted strongly the following day on his Truth Social platform. In a lengthy post, he criticized the two lawmakers, calling them “crooked and corrupt politicians” and questioning their loyalty to the United States. He described their protest as disrespectful and said they were damaging the country. Trump went further, suggesting that they should be removed from the United States as quickly as possible.
Omar and Tlaib are both Muslim women and among the first of their backgrounds to serve in Congress. Omar, a Somali American, represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis. Tlaib, a Palestinian American, represents Michigan and is the first woman of Palestinian descent elected to the U.S. Congress.
After the speech, Omar defended her actions on social media. She said she felt it was necessary to speak out because, in her view, the administration’s immigration enforcement policies had serious consequences. She pointed to incidents earlier this year in Minnesota, where two U.S. citizens were killed during protests against immigration raids carried out by federal officers. Omar said she believed the administration should be held accountable.
Tlaib also responded publicly. In her message, she suggested that Trump was reacting angrily to being challenged by two Muslim women. She used the hashtag “#PresidentMajnoon,” using an Arabic word that can mean “crazy,” “fanatical,” or “possessed.”
The protest during the State of the Union was not limited to Omar and Tlaib. A small group of Democratic lawmakers interrupted the speech at various points. Representative Al Green was escorted out of the House chamber after holding up a sign that read, “Black people aren’t apes.” His sign was a response to a racist video involving former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama that Trump had recently shared online. Reports also said that Representative Sarah McBride voiced objections during the address, although Trump did not mention her in his social media post.
Trump’s remarks about sending Omar and Tlaib “back” have drawn criticism from many who say such language echoes earlier controversial statements he made during his presidency. In the past, he suggested that certain lawmakers of color should return to the countries of their heritage, even though they are American citizens. Supporters of the president argue that his comments were aimed at what they see as disruptive behavior during an important national event.
The exchange highlights the deep political divisions in Washington, especially over immigration policy. Trump has made strict immigration enforcement a central part of his platform, while many Democrats argue for more protections for immigrant communities and oppose aggressive federal raids.
The incident has added to ongoing tensions between the White House and progressive lawmakers. It also underscores how heated political debates have become, particularly around issues of race, immigration, and national identity. As both sides continue to defend their positions, the controversy is likely to fuel further debate across the country.