On Sunday, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D–MN) attempted to point out what she perceived to be hypocrisy of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy‘s (R–CA) plans to remove her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
She was asked about this subject on MSNBC‘s Yasmin Vossoughian Reports, following McCarthy‘s successful bid for the speaker‘s gavel. Omar strongly denounced the decision and given the fact that McCarthy has vowed to give her the boot, it’s easy to see her angle.
She argued that McCarthy‘s actions were not in line with the values of the American people, and that it was indicative of a double standard. Omar should know, she prides herself on her anti-American rhetoric.
“I have not [received any updates],” Omar said. “It’s my understanding that we obviously have to get the rules package done. Hopefully, Monday when we reconvene, that is on top of the agenda, and then the different caucuses, our caucus and their conference, will make appointments to committees and we will go from there.”
Omar criticized House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for the process by which he achieved the speakership. She then pointed to her Somali heritage as a reason why she should remain on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I do have to say for a speaker that has faced a historic humiliation — that had gotten elected after 15 rounds, surpassing a record that was set pre-Civil War — there is an opportunity here as he has said to not do things in the way in which it has been done before,” she explained. “I think it would be hypocritic [sic] for him to remove, you know, the first African born on subcommittee on Africa on the Foreign Affairs Committee where I’ve had the opportunity to not only represent my constituents, but the voice of so many people who have never had a voice on the Foreign Affairs Committee.”
When Representative Ilhan Omar was elected in 2018, she sparked several controversies due to her anti–Israel positions and remarks and was accused of antisemitism. In the summer of 2021, when Omar was facing criticism from both sides of the aisle for appearing to equate Israel and the United States with the Taliban.
McCarthy vowed to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee if the House was retaken by the Republicans, referring to her as “anti–American“ and “antisemitic.” In late 2020, after the Republicans won back the House in the November midterms, McCarthy reiterated this commitment.
