Former President Barack Obama on Sunday condemned the raid by federal agents on the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., calling it a “transparent” effort by the Trump administration to “intimidate” her.
“The entire weight of the federal government is falling on a law-abiding elected official because she dared to criticize the president,” Obama wrote on X.
Federal agents searched the Washington home last week as part of an investigation into Omar, who has openly opposed President Donald Trump and his policies. The timing of the search alarmed Justice Department veterans because it fell so close to the midterm elections and took place on a federal holiday.
Obama also criticized the administration’s apparent efforts to deport Omar, who was born in Somalia but became a naturalized U.S. citizen when he was 17.
“Now the Administration is actively attempting to deport Congresswoman Omar, apparently based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 years old when her father was naturalized and therefore not a citizen,” Obama wrote. “Federal agents searched his home, confiscated his personal files, and seized his phone – all in an attempt to uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that would somehow make their case.”
A person familiar with the investigation told NBC News that possible charges against Omar cited by federal officials include conspiracy and false statements in immigration documents. The Justice Department has not revealed any evidence against her.
Omar linked the raid to Trump last week, calling it “an attempt to target political enemies and militarize federal law enforcement.”
“For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” Omar wrote on X.
The lengthy statement is unusual for Obama, who has been selective about using his voice after leaving office nearly a decade ago. Obama called Omar “one of the Trump administration’s fiercest critics,” which he linked to Trump’s efforts to “repeatedly label her as someone he believes has no place in this country.”
“The fact that any president or administration would be willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate anyone should outrage all Americans, regardless of what they think of Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there is no reason to believe that it will stop with her – or that future presidents, from both parties, will not do the same,” he wrote.
Omar has been a frequent target of criticism from Trump. He said last week that the search had “nothing to do” with him, adding that it was “really up to the DOJ” – and called Omar a “terrible person.” At a rally last week, Trump attacked Omar and Somali immigrants, prompting cries of “deportation” from the crowd. Trump wrote on Truth Social this year that he would like to see Omar sent back to Somalia.
Obama compared Trump’s treatment of Omar to targeting other perceived political enemies, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey and members of the Federal Reserve.
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