US President Donald Trump sparked controversy by suggesting that two Muslim Democratic Congresswomen, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, should be “institutionalized” and sent back to “where they came from.” His remarks came a day after a heated exchange with the lawmakers during his State of the Union address.
During the address, both Omar and Tlaib interrupted Trump’s speech, shouting “You’re killing Americans.” Omar also called the President a “liar” while reacting to his statements.
Trump’s Remarks on Social Media
On Wednesday, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying the two lawmakers “had the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, look like they should be institutionalized.” He added, “We should send them back from where they came — as fast as possible.”
Both Omar and Tlaib are naturalized US citizens. Omar was born in Somalia, while Tlaib was born in the United States to Palestinian parents.
Reactions from Political Leaders and Advocacy Groups
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump’s comments as “xenophobic” and “disgraceful,” while Rashida Tlaib responded on X (formerly Twitter) saying the remarks show that “he is crashing out.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also condemned Trump’s statement, calling it racist and bigoted. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR National Deputy Director, said, “It is racist and bigoted to say two Muslim US lawmakers should be sent to the country they were born in or where their ancestors came from based on their criticism of the gunning down of Americans by ICE.”
Trump Makes Case on Iran, Touts Economy in Lengthy State of the Union
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, though last week press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that media reports had “smeared” the president as racist.
Context: Immigration Enforcement and Controversies
Trump’s immigration policies and enforcement actions have faced scrutiny, especially following two fatal shootings of US citizens by federal agents in Minnesota earlier this year. Since the beginning of 2026, at least eight people have died in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, continuing a trend from 31 deaths in 2025.
In his speech, Trump reiterated claims that Somali communities in Minnesota had engaged in fraud and referred to “Somali pirates” in the region. His administration used these allegations to justify deploying armed federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
Rights groups have criticized these measures, arguing that isolated cases of fraud have been used as a pretext to target immigrant communities and create a climate of fear. Critics also question Trump’s ability to address fraud, citing past pardons he granted to individuals with fraud convictions.
Trump has also faced backlash recently over a social media post that included a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, further intensifying concerns about his rhetoric toward minorities.
