Rep. Ilhan Omar pushed back sharply at Elon Musk after he suggested she owes her congressional seat to Somali voters. Omar, who represents Minneapolis' Fifth District, pointed out the district is majority white — a fact later confirmed by an AI assessment. The clash occurs amid ICE deployments, a recent shooting involving an ICE agent, and welfare-fraud indictments that have put Minnesota's Somali community under intense scrutiny.
Ilhan Omar Rebukes Elon Musk: "You Are One of the Dumbest People on Earth" Over Somali Voter Claim
Ilhan Omar Lashes Out At Elon Musk As 'Dumbest’ Person On Earth After FAA Recruitment Plea
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) fired back at Elon Musk after the billionaire suggested she remains in Congress because of Somali-American voters in her district. Omar — who was born in Somalia and has represented Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, which covers all of Minneapolis, since 2019 — rejected Musk's claim and pushed back against what she called a baseless conspiracy.
The Exchange
"This has been happening for years. Ilhan Omar is the most obvious example. A large number of relatively recently arrived Somalis will elect only a Somali to Congress in that Minnesota district," Musk wrote in response to a post alleging undocumented immigrants were being incentivized to enter the United States. Hours later Omar replied: "You are one of the dumbest people on earth, my district is literally a majority white district. Your conspiracy theories are laughable and should have no place in a society that cares about facts."
Context and Verification
The exchange comes amid heightened scrutiny of Minneapolis's Somali community after federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol were deployed in the area. Last week, an ICE agent shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Goodin in Minneapolis as she attempted to drive away, an incident that has added to local tensions.
On the platform, another user asked Grok, Musk's AI chatbot, to assess the district. Grok correctly noted that Omar's district is approximately 60% white, undercutting Musk's suggestion that Omar's reelection is driven solely by Somali voters.
Broader Online Activity
Musk, who was born in South Africa, has recently amplified anti-immigration rhetoric and has been associated with elements of replacement theory online. Separately, he quote-tweeted a post that read, "If White men become a minority, we will be slaughtered," to which he added a "100" emoji, signaling agreement.
Local Fallout
Right-leaning outlets have intensified coverage of Minnesota's Somali community following indictments in a welfare-fraud investigation that prosecutors say disproportionately involved members of that community. The spotlight deepened after YouTuber Nick Shirley posted a viral video visiting several Somali-run daycares in Minneapolis; when staff declined to let a stranger enter, Shirley concluded the facilities were suspicious — a claim that drew criticism for its methodology and tone.
Why It Matters
The exchange highlights how national figures can shape local narratives and how misinformation and conspiratorial language can spread on social platforms. Omar's rebuttal emphasizes the importance of checking demographic facts before advancing claims about electoral outcomes.
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