Trump Accuses Ilhan Omar of Secret Millions as DOJ Probe Is Announced — Lawmaker Fires Back: “He’s Panicking”
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Washington and ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum, President Donald Trump announced that his administration is “looking at” Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, repeating unsubstantiated claims about her personal wealth and implying potential criminal wrongdoing.
The announcement, delivered via Trump’s Truth Social account, comes amid mounting pressure on the administration following a fatal Border Patrol incident in Minneapolis and a steep decline in public support for federal immigration raids. Omar, a longtime target of Trump’s rhetoric, responded forcefully, accusing the president of manufacturing scandals to distract from policy failures and political collapse.
“This is what panic looks like,” Omar said bluntly. “When your support is crumbling, you reach for lies, conspiracies, and scapegoats.”
What followed was a rapid escalation: shifting claims about Omar’s net worth, talk of investigations by the Department of Justice and Congress, the dispatch of Trump’s “border czar” to Minnesota, and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement — all against the backdrop of mass protests, legal challenges, and a growing national backlash.
Conflicting Claims and a Moving Target
On Monday, Trump claimed that Omar is “reportedly worth more than $44 million,” asserting that both the DOJ and Congress are examining her finances. The claim stood in direct contradiction to a post he made just two days earlier, in which he asked, without evidence, “Why does Ilhan Omar have $34 million dollars in her account?”
The inconsistency did not go unnoticed.
To Omar and her allies, the fluctuating figures underscore the central criticism: there is no evidence behind the accusations. No bank records, no audits, no financial disclosures supporting the claims. Just numbers floated into the political ether — numbers that conveniently grow larger with each retelling.
“This is not an investigation,” said one Democratic aide familiar with House ethics procedures. “It’s performance. The numbers don’t matter because the story isn’t about money — it’s about demonization.”
A Familiar Target in a Familiar Playbook
For Omar, the latest accusations are not new. Since entering Congress in 2019, she has been one of Trump’s most frequent targets, enduring years of attacks that critics say blend political hostility with racial and religious animus.
Trump has repeatedly questioned Omar’s loyalty, falsely suggested she supports terrorism, and even called for her deportation — despite her being a naturalized U.S. citizen and an elected member of Congress. Her Somali heritage and Muslim faith have often been central to the attacks, drawing condemnation from civil rights groups and international observers.
“This is a pattern,” Omar wrote on X. “Years of ‘investigations’ have found nothing. This is about deflection, not accountability.”
Indeed, multiple Republican-led efforts to scrutinize Omar’s finances, campaign activities, and personal life have failed to produce evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Financial disclosures filed with Congress show modest assets consistent with a lawmaker’s salary and book royalties — not tens of millions of dollars.
The DOJ, Congress, and Political Theater
Trump’s assertion that the Department of Justice is “looking at” Omar raised immediate questions. The DOJ does not publicly confirm or deny investigations into individuals, and no formal announcement or court filing has corroborated Trump’s claim.
However, Republicans in Congress were quick to amplify the narrative.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer told the New York Post that he plans to investigate Omar and her husband, who owns a small consulting business. Comer provided no evidence of wrongdoing but suggested that “questions need to be answered.”
Democrats counter that the Oversight Committee is increasingly being used as a political weapon.
“When investigations are announced through tabloids and social media rather than subpoenas and hearings, that tells you everything,” said a former committee counsel. “This is about headlines, not facts.”
The Minneapolis Killing and a Nation on Edge
The accusations against Omar gained new intensity following the killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis — an incident that has triggered widespread outrage, protests, and calls for accountability.
Two days before announcing the alleged investigation, Trump suggested that Omar bore some responsibility for Pretti’s death, though he provided no explanation or evidence to support the claim. The implication was clear: by criticizing immigration enforcement, Omar had somehow enabled violence.
Civil liberties advocates called the suggestion dangerous and inflammatory.
“Blaming an elected official for the actions of federal agents is reckless,” said a constitutional law expert. “It’s an attempt to redirect anger away from the state and toward a political enemy.”
Enter the “Border Czar”
As tensions escalated, Trump announced he was sending his so-called “border czar,” Tom Homan, to Minnesota.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Homan would oversee ICE operations on the ground, targeting “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.”
But critics dispute that characterization. Data and reporting consistently show that the majority of individuals detained by ICE have no criminal convictions. Legal observers also note that recent raids have raised serious constitutional concerns, including warrantless arrests, racial profiling, and denial of due process.
“What’s happening in Minnesota is not law enforcement,” said one immigration attorney. “It’s collective punishment.”
Public Opinion Turns
If the administration hoped these moves would shore up support, the opposite appears to be happening.
Polling shows public approval of federal immigration raids declining sharply, even among moderate voters. At the same time, support for abolishing ICE — once a fringe position — is rising, particularly among younger Americans.
Trump’s overall approval rating continues its downward trend, weighed down by corruption scandals, court challenges, and policy failures. Nearly all of his major initiatives, including aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, are currently being challenged in federal court.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has become a focal point of resistance.
A Historic General Strike
On Friday, tens of thousands of Minnesotans participated in what organizers described as a historic general strike. Workers, students, activists, and community leaders flooded the streets, protesting immigration raids, police violence, and what they see as authoritarian overreach by the federal government.
The demonstrations were among the largest in the state’s history and drew national attention.
“This is not a fringe movement,” said one labor organizer. “This is what happens when people feel their government has turned against them.”
Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, praised the protesters and reiterated her call for accountability and reform.
Deflection as Strategy
Political analysts note that Trump’s attacks on Omar fit a long-standing pattern: when under pressure, he shifts the spotlight to a polarizing figure, often a woman of color, and frames himself as the victim of conspiracies.
In December, after Trump made widely condemned racist remarks about Somalis, Omar responded with a warning that now appears prophetic.
“The president knows he is failing,” she wrote at the time, “and so he is reverting to what he knows best: trying to divert attention by stoking bigotry.”
The current controversy, many argue, is a textbook example.
What the Evidence Actually Shows
Despite years of scrutiny, no credible evidence has emerged linking Omar to financial crimes. Her net worth, like that of many members of Congress, is not precisely known, but public disclosures suggest it is nowhere near the figures Trump has cited.
Ethics experts emphasize that exaggerating or fabricating wealth allegations can have serious consequences.
“These claims damage public trust,” said a former federal prosecutor. “They also put individuals at risk by painting targets on their backs.”
A Dangerous Escalation
Beyond the personal impact on Omar, critics warn that Trump’s rhetoric represents a dangerous escalation — one that undermines democratic norms and the rule of law.
When a president publicly suggests criminal investigations without evidence, and ties political opponents to acts of violence, it blurs the line between governance and vendetta.
“This is how institutions erode,” said a political historian. “Not all at once, but through repeated abuses that people become numb to.”
Omar’s Final Word
Omar has made clear she does not intend to back down.
“Get your goons out of Minnesota,” she wrote in response to Trump’s announcement. “The people see through this.”
As the administration faces mounting legal challenges, public protests, and declining approval, the battle between Trump and one of his most outspoken critics shows no sign of abating.
What remains to be seen is whether the latest attempt to weaponize investigations will succeed — or whether it will further galvanize opposition in a country already on edge.
One thing is certain: in a political climate defined by distrust, fear, and polarization, the clash between Trump and Ilhan Omar is no longer just about one lawmaker’s finances. It is about the future of accountability, power, and democracy itself.
