Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., hit back on Thursday, June 25, after Rep. Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip and a fellow Minnesotan, said Somalis who do not assimilate should “go the hell back to where they came from.”
Omar, who arrived in the United States as a Somali refugee, posted on X that she had “assimilated all the way to Congress” yet still faced the same criticism from Emmer.
She called him an “idiot” in the post and urged supporters to back his Democratic challenger in next year’s election.
Tom Emmer’s Remarks Ignite Political Firestorm in Minnesota
The exchange began when Emmer spoke at a town hall event that was captured on video and shared by journalist Aaron Rupar.
During the town hall event, Emmer said Minnesotans worry about being labeled racist or Islamophobic for raising concerns.
“You know what? I’m done being even the least bit careful,” Emmer said. “Somalis don’t assimilate. And if they don’t assimilate, then they should go the hell back to where they came from.”
Emmer represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, which neighbors Omar’s 5th District in the Twin Cities area.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, concentrated especially in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs.
Ilhan Omar Responds: ‘I Assimilated All the Way to Congress’
Omar responded directly on social media and noted that she got elected to the Congress after assimilating.
“I assimilated all the way to Congress, and this idiot still tells me to go back where I came from,” she wrote.
In a follow-up post, she pointed supporters toward Doug Chapin, the Democrat running in the August 2026 primary to challenge Emmer in the 6th District.
“Go and support Doug Chapin to replace xenophobic Tom,” Omar wrote, linking to Chapin’s campaign website.
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Chapin, a Hanover resident, is seeking the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination to face Emmer, a Republican first elected to Congress in 2014.
Emmer currently serves as Majority Whip, the No. 3 position in House Republican leadership.
The comments come amid ongoing debates in Minnesota about immigration, assimilation, and the integration of Somali communities.
Supporters and Critics Clash Over Assimilation Debate
Supporters of Emmer’s view cite challenges such as language barriers, higher levels of welfare use in some communities, and isolated cases of crime or fraud associated with Somali immigrants.
Critics, including many of Omar’s supporters on social media, say the comments are inflammatory and too sweeping, arguing that many Somali Americans have opened businesses, served in the military, and contributed to their local communities.
Omar’s own political rise is often cited in these discussions. Elected to Congress in 2018, she became one of the first Muslim women in the House and the first Somali American member.
She has represented a district with a significant East African population and has been a vocal progressive voice on issues from foreign policy to domestic spending.
This is not the first time tensions have boiled over between the two Minnesota lawmakers. Emmer and Omar have clashed before over issues involving Somalia and the Somali community.
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In past years, Emmer criticized Omar over comments she made in a Somali-language speech that some interpreted as putting Somalia first.
Omar has pushed back against what she describes as xenophobia and Islamophobia from Republican critics.
The House Majority Whip has previously spoken about concerns over assimilation in Minnesota, citing data on English proficiency and cultural inclusion in some immigrant groups.
Minnesota has seen rapid demographic changes over the past three decades, with refugees from Somalia and other countries resettled in the region.
While many families have thrived, conservatives have pointed to pockets of high poverty, low employment, and parallel social structures as evidence that integration challenges remain.
Democrats Say the Remarks Unfairly Target Somali Americans
Democrats and immigrant advocates say attacks such as Emmer’s ignore the contributions of naturalized citizens and legal residents.
They cite Somali businesses, community organizations, and political participation as signs of successful integration.
Republicans counter that an honest conversation about failed assimilation is necessary to protect American culture and taxpayer resources.
They argue that encouraging assimilation benefits both newcomers and the communities that welcome them.
