Congresswoman Responds To Video
Rep. Ilhan Omar, a prominent voice in the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, is once again making headlines — but this time, not for her policy proposals or speeches. Instead, she’s facing backlash for a profanity-laced confrontation with a reporter that raises new questions about political accountability, press freedom, and the double standards often woven into the fabric of Washington.
The incident unfolded on Capitol Hill when Daily Caller News Foundation reporter Myles Morell approached Omar with a pointed but relevant question. He asked whether more Democrats should travel to El Salvador in defense of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant deported by the Trump administration. Omar, visibly agitated, didn’t just dismiss the question — she dropped an expletive. Twice.
Today I tried to ask @Ilhan a question on behalf of The @DailyCaller News Foundation and she told me to “F**k off” twice.
That was very unprofessional of her. Our elected officials should not be acting this way. pic.twitter.com/8wPu566ZTt
— Myles Morell (@MylesMorell) May 1, 2025
Video of the moment, now circulating widely online, shows Omar telling Morell to “f— off,” then repeating it when he asked for clarification. She later doubled down on social media, writing: “I said what I said. You and all your miserable trolls can f— off.”
This wasn’t a private outburst caught on a hot mic — it was a public declaration, unfiltered and deliberate.
The outcry has been swift, particularly given Omar’s prior commitments to press freedom. In 2020, she explicitly declared, “I make no exceptions in my view that a free press is fundamental to an open, democratic society.” Her past remarks championed the right of journalists to ask hard questions — even inconvenient ones — without facing intimidation. And yet, when confronted with one herself, the response was hardly democratic or respectful.
I said what I said. You and all your miserable trolls can f*ck off. https://t.co/qxqqAhaIEc
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 1, 2025
Morell, the journalist at the center of the exchange, has characterized Omar’s reaction as “unprofessional and rude,” emphasizing that he asked the same question of other Democratic lawmakers. His outlet, The Daily Caller, is right-leaning — a detail not lost in the broader narrative. But party affiliation should never dictate a reporter’s right to ask a question — especially when the subject involves U.S. lawmakers intervening in foreign deportation cases.
Omar’s refusal to engage, and her choice to lash out, lands uneasily against her own professed values. The irony is stark, the inconsistency more so. If the free press is indeed sacrosanct, it must include the uncomfortable questions, the ideological opponents, and even the conservative outlets she’d rather ignore.