President Donald Trump has never been a fan of Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who is a Somali immigrant to the United States. Previously, he’s complained that she should “go back” to where she came from — which earned a formal condemnation from the U.S. House — and now, she is again overshadowing his so-called leadership with her own. During an appearance on ABC this Sunday morning, she outlined some of the steps that need to be taken amidst nationwide unrest over rampant police brutality. Her plan for the path ahead contrasted dramatically with Trump’s “plan” to keep sitting in the White House and tweeting random insults while the chaos grows.
Would be grateful for a real President right about now
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) May 31, 2020
Asked what she thinks needs to be done to begin to address the concerns of the demonstrators who have turned out around the country, Omar commented to host George Stephanopoulos:
‘We need nationwide reforms. We also need to make sure that the kind of investment we are making in our communities is a real one. The unrest we are seeing in our nation isn’t just because of the life that was taken, it’s also because so many people have experienced this. So many people have experienced injustices within our system. So many people know the social and economic neglect. We are living in a country that has a two-tiered justice system, and people are sick and tired of being sick and tired.’
Check out her comments below:
Asked what must be done to deliver justice for George Floyd, Rep. Ilhan Omar says we need "nationwide reforms."
“The unrest we are seeing in our nation isn’t just because of the life that was taken, it’s also because so many people have experienced this.” https://t.co/sVerbxGgdM pic.twitter.com/Z1DOuy7qOf
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 31, 2020
As Omar noted separately:
‘This president has failed in really understanding the kind of pain and anguish many of his citizens are feeling.’
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar says in the absence of leadership by President Trump, Americans are stepping up to protect each other amid unrest: “This president has failed in really understanding the kind of pain and anguish many of his citizens are feeling.” https://t.co/sVerbxGgdM pic.twitter.com/Nrbubn9pkG
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 31, 2020
Contrast her remarks with the president’s thoughts about the situation. As a video went viral of a pair of New York Police Department SUVs slamming into a crowd of protesters, Trump glibly tweeted:
‘Let New York’s Finest be New York’s Finest. There is nobody better, but they must be allowed to do their job!’
Let New York’s Finest be New York’s Finest. There is nobody better, but they must be allowed to do their job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2020
Although it’s not immediately clear if Trump actually saw the video of the SUVs hitting the crowd before tweeting that statement, the implication that he supports violent force is pretty clear nonetheless.
And shortly before that, he tweeted:
‘The National Guard has been released in Minneapolis to do the job that the Democrat Mayor couldn’t do. Should have been used 2 days ago & there would not have been damage & Police Headquarters would not have been taken over & ruined. Great job by the National Guard. No games!’
The National Guard was already in Minneapolis two days prior to the president’s tweet, making the entire premise of his statement — that authorities were unduly lax in waiting to deploy them — utter nonsense. And this is the best that the president of the United States has got.
They were there two nights ago. And now multiple cities across the country are burning. https://t.co/oXKwgPTZCI
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) May 31, 2020
CNN reporter Oliver Darcy had previously memorably noted:
‘Just absolutely remarkable that chaos is raging across America in the way that it is and the President is not addressing it in any meaningful way.’
Just absolutely remarkable that chaos is raging across America in the way that it is and the President is not addressing it in any meaningful way.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) May 31, 2020
Protests have raged in a startling array of major cities, and these demonstrations have become increasingly intense. There have been concerns amidst the mayhem that far-right agitators have even infiltrated the crowds in attempts to cause more chaos that they hope they can use for their advantage.
dystopian scenes in Minneapolis tonight pic.twitter.com/ywDcpviXMw
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 31, 2020
Featured Image via Craig on Flickr, available via Creative Commons License
