Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that “Squad” member Ilhan Omar should be fired from both Congress and the US after a video surfaced of the far-left Democrat giving a speech in which critics say he put Somalia’s interests ahead of US interests.
“Removal from Congress, lose character and send them home!” the former 2024 Republican presidential candidate wrote on an X next to a clip of Omar’s statement.
The latest controversy involving the Minnesota lawmaker began after Omar delivered a Somali-language speech to a gathering of community leaders at a Minneapolis hotel Saturday night, where he denounced the Ethiopian government’s plan to enter into a sea access agreement with the breakaway republic. from Somaliland.
In a video translation of the statement shared by DeSantis, Omar said that “the US government will only do what Somalis in the US tell them to do. They must do what we want and nothing else. They must follow our orders and that’s our way will look after the interests of Somalia.”
“The US is a country where one of your daughters is in Congress to represent your interests,” Omar added, referring to himself. “As long as I am in the US Congress, Somalia will never be in danger, its waters will not be stolen by Ethiopia or anyone else … Sleep well, knowing that I am here to protect Somalia’s interests from within the US system. “
Omar, 41, also criticized the governments of Ethiopia and Kenya, accusing them of “stealing” territory from their neighbors and saying, according to the translation, that “we will liberate the occupied territories” of Djibouti, Somaliland and Northern Kenya. Eastern Province, the latter has a large population of Somali and Somali ethnic refugees
The congressman insisted his remarks were misinterpreted after he was condemned by Somaliland’s deputy foreign minister, who accused him of “ethno-racist rhetoric.”
We were shocked, even shocked to learn of a statement made by Minnesota Congressman Ilhan Omar (D) in a recent public forum, which was widely circulated on most social media platforms and is attached below for your reference.
The language he used was very regrettable… pic.twitter.com/7Ag9ZafTKY
— Ambassador Rhoda J Elmi (@AmbRhodaJElmi) January 28, 2024
“It is not only skewed but completely misguided, but I would expect nothing more from these propagandists. I pray for them and for their sanity,” Omar replied.
“Somalis in Somalia and in the diaspora are united in that effort and I stand in solidarity with them. No amount of distractions and lies will change that.”
In a different translation, shared by the congressman, he was quoted as saying“We are brothers and sisters, supporting each other, people who know they are Somalis and Muslims, come to help each other and help their brothers.”
Ilhan Omar has disputed the translation of his speech shared online. Universal Somali TV Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has become America’s first foreign policy advocate. AP
“The US government will do what we ask,” he said. “We live in this country. We are the taxpayers of this country.”
Omar also emphasized that while he was in Congress, “no one will take the sea of Somalia” and the US “will not support others to rob us.”
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, when the East African country was in the midst of a civil war. It has not been officially recognized by any member state of the United Nations or international organizations.
The congressman was first elected to the lower house in 2019. AP Ilhan Omar has faced severe criticism from the right during his time in Congress. ZUMAPRESS.com
Omar, the first Somali in Congress, was born in Mogadishu and immigrated to the US, becoming a citizen in 2000.
She is one of two Muslim women legislators in the House of Representatives, along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
Omar’s fellow Minnesotan, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, said Monday that Omar should “resign in disgrace” over “Somali’s first horrible comment,” which he called “a slap in the face to the Minnesotans he was elected to serve and a direct violation his oath of office.”
In response to DeSantis, Omar admonished Tuesday that the 45-year-old “[m]leave the failure of 2024 and prepare for the failure of 2028.”
A representative for Omar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
