Multiple viral posts claimed that well‑known celebrities and politicians said, "Our country would be safer without Somali immigrants — starting with Ilhan Omar." These near‑identical stories circulated on Facebook and on dozens of low‑credibility websites. An investigation by fact‑checkers found no evidence that the quoted figures ever made such remarks; instead the items appear to be part of a coordinated, AI‑driven campaign tied to Vietnam‑run pages.
Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of Facebook post on the lustreredj28 account.
What Was Claimed
The most prominent example named Barbra Streisand in a Facebook post dated Jan. 3, 2026 (posted from the account "lustreredj28") under the headline "BREAKING NEWS." The post opened with the line: Barbra Streisand says 'Our country would be safer without Somali immigrants -- starting with Ilhan Omar!' The same language was recycled about many other public figures — from Nigel Farage to Kevin Costner and numerous musicians and commentators.
Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of the page transparency tab of the lustreredj28 page on Facebook.
What We Found
- No credible news outlets published reports containing the quoted phrase. Lead Stories and other fact‑checking searches of Google News for the exact phrases returned no legitimate articles corroborating the claims.
- The Facebook page used to promote the Streisand version displayed a Page Transparency panel indicating it was run from Vietnam, a detail shared by multiple pages that pushed similar stories.
- The Facebook posts linked to low‑credibility sites (e.g., a site named "The New Times") that framed the quote as an allegation but provided no verifiable sourcing or direct evidence.
- A broad Facebook search produced dozens of nearly identical posts using the same template and imagery, each pairing Ilhan Omar's picture with a different celebrity or politician. Names included Jeanine Pirro, Joanna Lumley, Kid Rock, 50 Cent, Jason Aldean, John Kennedy, Mike Johnson, Kevin Costner, Steven Tyler and others.
How The Hoax Spread
Fact‑checkers have documented a recurring pattern in which AI‑generated text and fabricated headlines are posted to networks of fan pages and websites operated from abroad. The Vietnam connection is significant because several recent investigations traced a major source of these AI‑generated false stories to operators in that country. The repeated template, identical phrasing, and Vietnam‑registered promotion pages strongly suggest a coordinated disinformation campaign rather than independent reporting.
Image source: Lead Stories animation of Facebook search results for the phrase "Our country would be safer without Somali immigrants - starting with Ilhan Omar".
Why This Matters
False attributions that tie public figures to xenophobic or inflammatory comments can inflame public sentiment, damage reputations, and erode trust in legitimate news sources. Identifying and explaining how these hoaxes spread helps readers evaluate social media claims and avoid amplifying harmful misinformation.
How To Spot Similar Hoaxes
Red flags include:
- Identical wording repeated across posts about different people.
- Articles on obscure or recently created websites with no track record of reporting.
- Social pages that list their country of management in Page Transparency as outside the claimed celebrity's home country.
- Lack of corroboration from established news organizations or the public figures' verified accounts.
Sources And Further Reading
This assessment is based on searches of news indexes, archived Facebook posts, and fact‑checking reports by Lead Stories and other verification outlets. Lead Stories has published a guide titled "Prebunk: Beware Of Fake Fan Pages Spreading False Stories About Your Favorite Celebrities — How To Spot 'Viet Spam'" that explains this pattern in detail.
