Omar Comments On Democrats Who Attended Trump Event
Well, folks, let’s break this one down because it’s a doozy. Representative Ilhan Omar, never one to shy away from controversy, had some strong words this week about her fellow Democrats who chose to attend President Trump’s inauguration on Monday. And if you thought her comments might be nuanced or diplomatic, think again. Omar made it clear on CNN’s The Source that she believes their attendance sent “the wrong message.”
Let’s set the scene: Kaitlan Collins, the show’s host, asked Omar what she thought about the number of Democrats who turned up for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.
Now, Omar wasn’t holding back. While she acknowledged there might be a few exceptions—folks who had specific reasons to be there—she slammed the overall attendance as unnecessary and, in her words, sending “the wrong message.”
Rep. @IlhanMN: on Biden, Dems attending Trump inauguration: “No one should show” Trump dignity and respect.
“This person that we told you is, like, going to destroy our democracy & is currently in the process of dismantling everything we hold dear. Um, I’m going to sit here &… pic.twitter.com/XSsFUPOVTA
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 24, 2025
What message, you ask? Omar spelled it out. She argued that Trump is no ordinary political opponent but, in her view, a threat to democracy itself. She pointed to his early executive orders as evidence that he’s actively working to “dismantle democracy.”
And in her eyes, showing up at his inauguration, shaking his hand, or even just being present sends a signal of acceptance—or worse, congratulation. “That’s not a good message,” she added, doubling down.
But wait, it gets juicier. Collins, always the journalist looking for clarity, pressed Omar further: Did her critique extend to prominent Democrats like former President Obama or former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? Omar didn’t hesitate.
“I just do not understand why they would attend,” she said, making it clear that even Democratic heavyweights weren’t immune from her criticism.
And if that weren’t enough, Omar touched on another hot-button topic—President Biden’s approach to the Trump transition. Remember when Biden reportedly greeted Trump with a cheerful “Welcome home!” upon his arrival at the White House? Or when he left a respectful letter in the Resolute Desk, upholding tradition? Some Democrats weren’t thrilled with these gestures, seeing them as overly kind. But Omar defended Biden, calling him a “real American” and a “patriot” who was trying to model good behavior, even under challenging circumstances.