At Pennsylvania Rally, Trump Escalates Attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar as GOP Unease Grows Ahead of Midterms
At a campaign rally in Mount Pocono, Pa., former President Donald J. Trump delivered one of his most blistering attacks in recent months on Representative Ilhan Omar, the Minnesota Democrat and Somali-born refugee who has long been a frequent target of his political rallies. Speaking before an enthusiastic crowd that braved near-freezing temperatures, Mr. Trump revived years-old allegations about Ms. Omar’s immigration history, mocked her background, and framed her as symbolic of what he described as broader failures by Democratic leadership.
Ms. Omar has repeatedly denied accusations that she improperly obtained immigration status or married a relative to gain entry into the United States. No evidence has been produced to substantiate those claims, though conservative media outlets and several Trump allies continue to elevate them. Federal immigration authorities have not announced any public findings of wrongdoing.
Still, Mr. Trump’s remarks on Saturday were among his most pointed since returning to the campaign trail.
“She comes in and complains about our country nonstop,” Mr. Trump told the crowd, drawing sustained applause. He went on to describe Somalia in derogatory terms and suggested that the congresswoman should “get the hell out” of the United States — language reminiscent of his 2019 rally, in which supporters chanted “send her back,” prompting widespread condemnation from civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers.
At one point, Mr. Trump revived the disputed allegation that Ms. Omar once entered into a fraudulent marriage, saying, “She married her brother to get in, right?” The crowd erupted in cheers, despite the claim’s lack of verified evidence.
A Rally Aimed at Energizing a Weakened Party
The event, held nearly a year into Mr. Trump’s return to the White House, underscored the complicated political environment facing Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. While the former president remains a dominant force within the party, a number of GOP candidates have struggled to energize voters on their own, relying heavily on Mr. Trump’s endorsements and campaign appearances to boost turnout.
On Fox News shortly after the rally, Tyrus, a commentator and former professional wrestler, chastised GOP candidates for leaning too heavily on the president. “Why does he have to leave the White House to campaign for these Republicans?” he asked. “They have to step up. The president shouldn’t have to do this.”
Mr. Trump himself appeared to acknowledge the burden. “We’ve got a lot of Republicans who need a little help,” he said, joking that the party’s congressional hopefuls often drew only a handful of supporters to events unless he appeared alongside them.
His frustration reflects a strategic challenge: midterm elections historically favor the party not occupying the White House. Democrats, energized by immigration enforcement controversies and social issues, have intensified their outreach in key swing districts, seeking to capitalize on Republican divisions.
An Investigation Revisited
Conservative media figures seized on the rally’s rhetoric, pointing viewers to comments made earlier in the week by Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In an interview on Newsmax, Mr. Homan said he had been asked to review immigration records connected to Ms. Omar. He acknowledged that earlier inquiries had been constrained by statutes of limitation and did not indicate that any official determination had been made.
Mr. Homan, who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations, did not provide details about what records were being reviewed or by whom. A spokesperson for Ms. Omar called the allegations “right-wing smears that have been debunked repeatedly.”
A Party Searching for Its Identity
Inside the Republican Party, the rally highlighted a broader struggle over leadership and messaging. While Mr. Trump remains popular among the party’s base — drawing large crowds even in frigid temperatures — Republicans have suffered a series of defeats in special elections and struggle to unify around policy priorities beyond immigration and cultural issues.
Mr. Trump used the Pennsylvania stage to emphasize a slate of initiatives he says are central to his second-term agenda, including new tariffs, expanded infrastructure projects, and regulatory measures related to artificial intelligence. But he also voiced frustration that some of his judicial and administrative nominees have stalled in the Senate, blaming internal Republican resistance as much as Democratic opposition.
Democrats, meanwhile, point to Mr. Trump’s increasingly inflammatory rhetoric as evidence that he is relying on division rather than governance. “This is a familiar playbook,” said one Democratic strategist. “When policy gets complicated, he returns to the politics of grievance.”
A Test for 2026
As the rally concluded, supporters chanted “USA” and waited hours in the cold to see the former president. For many, Mr. Trump remains the party’s singular source of energy. But for Republicans seeking to expand their appeal beyond his base, the rally raised persistent questions about the party’s future — and how dependent it remains on its most polarizing figure.
Whether Mr. Trump’s approach will bolster his party in the midterms, or deepen its vulnerabilities, remains one of the central unknowns shaping the next year of American politics.
