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President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that the Department of Justice is scrutinising Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s finances, linking the inquiry to ongoing unrest in Minnesota following federal immigration raids that left demonstrator Alex Pretti dead.
On Monday, Trump announced via social media that he was dispatching Tom Homan, his designated border czar, to Minnesota, a state roiled by protests after the Saturday shooting of Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse. “Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me,” Trump wrote, adding that a “major investigation” into alleged welfare fraud in Minnesota is underway.
Trump also raised questions about Omar, claiming that the congresswoman, who came to the U.S. from Somalia with nothing, is now worth over $44 million—a figure tied to her husband’s assets.
Omar responded sharply, accusing Trump of using her as a distraction from declining support. “Right on cue, you’re deflecting from your failures with lies and conspiracy theories about me. Years of investigations have found nothing. Get your goons out of Minnesota,” she wrote on X.
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The congresswoman has long been a focus of Trump’s attacks, with critics noting his repeated use of Islamophobic rhetoric. Her office condemned the administration’s aggressive immigration tactics in Minnesota, citing previous incidents including the fatal shooting of Renee Good, another U.S. citizen, by federal agents.
The latest shooting of Pretti intensified calls for an independent inquiry. Footage from multiple angles contradicts initial claims by the White House that the victim was armed, showing Pretti holding only a phone. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the administration is overseeing investigations but deflected some blame to state and local officials opposing the raids. DHS, the FBI, and Customs and Border Protection are all reportedly conducting probes.
Trump said he spoke with Governor Tim Walz, describing their conversation as constructive. “I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him… The Governor, very respectfully, understood,” Trump said. Both leaders, he added, are focused on improving conditions in Minnesota.
The situation in Minneapolis highlights the volatile intersection of immigration enforcement, political attacks, and public unrest, with Trump using the controversy to amplify scrutiny on Omar while defending the federal crackdown that has sparked national debate.
