LD. 🚨 ELON MUSK JUST WENT “NUCLEAR” ON THE ILHAN OMAR DEBATE — AND D.C. IS LOSING IT 😱🇺🇸 .LD
Elon Musk amplified explosive calls for Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) denaturalization and deportation after falsely accusing her of “breaking the law” by advising undocumented Somalis on rights, igniting a firestorm tied to Trump’s immigration crackdown. In February 2025 X posts, Musk shared a manipulated video splicing Omar’s Somali-language explanation of Fifth Amendment protections with unrelated footage, claiming she hosted “seminars” to “evade” ICE—prompting Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) to declare, “America would be a better place if @IlhanMN were deported back to Somalia.” Omar, a naturalized citizen since 2000, hit back: “Elon and I both immigrated… clearly only one of us bothered to learn the laws.”
The controversy erupted amid Trump’s TPS revocation for Somalis, with Musk’s rhetoric echoing GOP attacks on her district’s community. He labeled her a “major grifter who hates America,” fueling denaturalization threats—a rare process for fraud, not politics. Bloomberg warned such moves against opponents like Musk himself, NYC’s Zohran Mamdani, and Omar cross a “red line.”
Video Manipulation and Legal Clash
The viral clip distorted a 2024 interview where Omar advised undocumented Somalis on self-incrimination rights—a protected Fifth Amendment exercise—even for non-citizens facing ICE. Musk’s “breaking the law. Literally. Outright” post drew 50M views, spurring Gill’s fundraising petition for her expulsion despite citizenship. Omar clarified on CNN: “It shows how little he understands our laws,” tying Musk’s data practices to violations.
Omar slammed USAID dismantling efforts, accusing Musk/Trump of fraud claims sans evidence: “What ‘fraud’ is, is what Congress debated and funded legally.” House Dems subpoenaed Musk over oversight.
Political Motivations and Backlash
Attacks peaked post-Trump’s reelection: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s prior censure push revived amid “fake translation” scandals. Republicans leverage her Somali roots against TPS cuts, but polls show 55% voter support for deporting criminals, not citizens. Dems decried racism; Omar called GOP “stupidity embarrassing,” urging aggressive leverage.
Musk’s immigrant irony fueled mockery—he naturalized from South Africa—amid Bannon’s counter-threats. Zeteo interview highlighted Gaza/war crimes, positioning her as progressive bulwark.
Broader Denaturalization Threat
Denaturalization, used sparingly (e.g., Nazis), requires DOJ proof of fraud during naturalization—politically weaponized here. Threats chill naturalized critics, testing citizenship’s sanctity amid 2025 deportations.
Omar’s resilience shines: “I’m at the point where intellectual debate is hard.” As midterms loom, her saga embodies divides—enforcement vs. rights. Musk’s megaphone escalates, but legality shields her.
