Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) got something of a hero’s welcome the moment she arrived back to her hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday evening.
When Omar stepped out of the airport doors, she was greeted with signs and a cheering crowd welcoming her return.
“Welcome home, Ilhan! Welcome home, Ilhan!” the crowd chanted.
A smiling Omar can be seen making her way through the crowd throughout the chants.
Rep. Ilhan Omar greeted with cheering crowd chanting "Welcome home, Ilhan" upon arriving in her hometown of Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/th9pcz00sN
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) July 18, 2019
KSTP-TV reporter Tom Hauser also posted a video of the congresswoman’s arrival:
Congresswoman Omar just arrived back in the Twin Cities. pic.twitter.com/ZiFqWnDJgQ
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) July 18, 2019
The chants seemed to be a show of support in response to President Donald Trump’s rally, during which not only did Trump repeatedly attacked Omar but also his supporters chanted “send her home.” Trump did nothing to quell the racist chanting, only speaking after the chants had died down a full ten seconds later (Trump later claimed he “was not happy” with the chanting).
The day after the rally, Omar told reporters, “I believe he is fascist.”
“I want to remind people that this is what this President and his supporters have done to our country that is supposed to be a country where we allow democratic debate and dissent to take place,” she said.
Democratic leaders have expressed concern about Omar’s safety in wake of Trump’s escalating attacks against one of the first Muslim women to be elected in Congress (and the first woman to wear a hijab).
Yes, welcome home indeed.
Rep. Omar needs as much support as possible. She was already a target due to her religion, but now the right is circulating rumors that she commited tax and immigration fraud to get into the U.S. (at the ripe old age of 10!) and that she married her brother. And our supposed leader is helping to spread the lie. It’s birtherism all over again.
The crowd welcoming her not only showed trumpers that she IS home, but that she has support. Great optics.
This is nothing short of awesome and amazing. It’s absolutely heartwarming. Good job Minnesotans.
That was so heartening to see.
Must have something in my eye. What a wonderful reaction from MN. Trump and his rabid haters are up against a wall of Americans who have had enough of them.
To all the good people in Minnesota.