There’s been a running competition among the infamous progressive wing of the Democratic Party, known as “The Squad,” for who is just … the worst. At times, the difference between Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Rashida Tlaib (MI), Cori Bush (MO), and others seem impossible to determine.
But when it comes to another competition, the one for who hates America the most, the winner is obvious: Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar.
This goes far beyond Omar’s general distaste for Western values, whether it be accusing Israel of hypnotizing the world, claiming that American support for Israel is motivated solely by Jewish money, fighting for lighter sentences for terrorists, or commemorating the Sept. 11 attacks as “some people did something.”
No, Omar’s latest behavior involves making it clear that in terms of her priorities, the United States is at the bottom of the heap.
America First? How about Somalia First?
“The U.S. is a country where one of your daughters is in Congress to represent your interest,” Omar told Somali community leaders at an event in Minneapolis. “For as long as I am in the U.S. Congress, Somalia will never be in danger; its waters will not be stolen by Ethiopia or others … Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system.”
“We, as Somalians, love each other … people who know they are Somalians first and Muslim second who protect one another and come to each other’s aid and to the aid of other Muslims too,” Omar added.
Now, this is the same Omar who has accused Jewish Americans of being more loyal to Israel than the United States, uncovering yet another double standard applied to Omar’s least favorite group of people.
But here’s the important part we must understand: It’s not necessarily a problem that Omar is advocating for her community or even for another country. Politicians routinely hold positions on foreign policy, often relating to their underlying interests or background.
No, the real problem here is that Omar describes herself as Somali first and Muslim second.
The beauty of the American experiment is that no matter your race, religion, or country of origin, citizens of this nation are Americans. Italian Americans, African Americans, and Irish Americans are all Americans. But notice that Omar didn’t say Somalian Americans or Muslim Americans. She said Somalians and Muslims — ”Somalians first and Muslim second,” to be precise — with her American identity so low down on the list it didn’t even deserve a mention.
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You’d think that Omar would be American first, given that the United States has given her quite literally everything. After she escaped the Somali civil war, the United States embraced her as a refugee in 1995 and then as a U.S. citizen in 2000 at the age of 17. In the years that have followed, she has achieved things beyond all imagination had she remained in Somalia.
But for figures such as Omar, as one of the most vocal members of the bizarre partnership of radical Islam and radical leftism, her clear disdain for her adopted nation remains a central feature of her very soul. Which raises the obvious question: Why should we welcome those who will take all they can get and still hate our country?
Ian Haworth is a columnist, speaker, and host of “Off Limits.” You can follow him on X at @ighaworth. You can also find him on Substack.