Omar blasts GOP’s ‘Islamophobia’ amid committee removal bid: ‘They’re not OK’ with Muslims ‘having a voice’
Islamophobia #Islamophobia
Rep. Ilhan Omar says McCarthy’s decision was a political stunt and a blow to a democratic institution
SHARE
SHARE
TWEET
SHARE
What to watch next
‘Deactivators’ neutralize tear gas in Peru’s protests
The Associated Press
‘It’s painful every single time’: PA’s first Black congresswoman reacts to Nichols death
CNN
Face the Nation: Warner, Rubio, Demings
CBS News
Israel Strikes Iranian Defense Compound
The Wall Street Journal
House Democrats fire back at McCarthy
CNN
Full joint interview with three House Dems facing committee removals
CNN
WSJ Opinion: Ron DeSantis Wants to Protect Teachers’ Rights
The Wall Street Journal
Memphis community mourning, praying ahead of Nichols funeral
MSNBC
Schiff hits GOP ‘hypocrisy’ over losing Intelligence Committee spot
CNN
Police reform calls mount after beating of Tyre Nichols
The Washington Post
These history-making women are now in charge of $1.7 trillion in federal spending
CNN
The GOP’s embrace of Marjorie Taylor Greene
MSNBC
Congressional Democrats and Republicans clash over the debt ceiling
MSNBC
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass discusses the death of Tyre Nichols
MSNBC
Asian American community mourns during Lunar New Year celebrations
MSNBC
WSJ Opinion: The Big Tanks Are Going to Ukraine
The Wall Street Journal
Click to expand
UP NEXT
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., accused Republicans of Islamophobia on Sunday after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy moved to eject her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee for what he described as antisemitic remarks.
Omar appeared Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” alongside Reps. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., after McCarthy removed the latter two from the House Intelligence Committee, citing national security concerns.
Omar, who has apologized in the past for repeating antisemitic tropes, said Republicans are targeting her because she’s Muslim.
“It is politically motivated, and in some cases motivated by the fact that many of these members don’t believe a Muslim refugee, an African, should even be in Congress, let alone have the opportunity to serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee,” she said.
© Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Reps. Adam Schiff, left, Ilhan Omar and Eric Swalwell conduct a news conference on being removed from committees assignments, in the Capitol Visitor Center on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
SCHIFF USES TIKTOK APP THAT BIDEN BANNEDTO COMPLAIN ABOUT GETTING KICKED OFF HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
CNN anchor Dana Bash interjected, saying Omar has “said this before” and that it seemed like she was “accusing Kevin McCarthy of racism.”
READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP
“I mean, I’m not making any accusations,” Omar responded. “I’m just laying out the facts. You remember Donald Trump coming into my state and saying Muslims, Somali refugees are infiltrating our country. You remember Marjorie Taylor Greene coming to Congress after Rashida [Tlaib] and I got sworn in and saying Muslims are infiltrating Congress. You remember [Lauren] Boebert saying that I was a terrorist. What did McCarthy do? He said, ‘she apologized, and we don’t have to worry about her Islamophobia.’”
“These people are OK with Islamophobia,” she continued. “They’re OK with trafficking, in their own ways, in antisemitism. They are not OK with having a Muslim have a voice on that committee.”
© NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Ilhan Omar Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images
OMAR, BOWMAN, FAR-LEFT ACTIVISTS CALL FOR CLARENCE THOMAS TO BE IMPEACHED
Omar previously labeled McCarthy “racist” and “xenophobic” for trying to remove her from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
McCarthy has said he is removing Omar from the position as she has upset many of her colleagues in the past with controversial anti-Israel statements that highlighted antisemitic tropes.
She once said, “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby” to explain why McCarthy criticized her for opposing the Jewish country. She also sparked backlash for a remark comparing the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban.
© Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, joined by Rep. Jim Jordan, speaks at a news conference on July 21, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
McCarthy, as House speaker, has the authority to approve committee appointments offered by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. While McCarthy had the authority to remove Schiff and Swalwell from their select committee without a vote, a full House vote is needed for Omar’s removal.
McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes in passing the resolution to remove Omar, and Reps. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ken Buck, R-Colo., have said they will vote against it.
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., is also recovering at home with an injury, giving McCarthy zero wiggle room.
Fox News’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.