Ilhan Out: House Boots Omar From Foreign Affairs Committee

The House on Thursday voted to pass a resolution removing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her position on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The move came after Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) rallied 218 Republicans to back the resolution condemning Omar for previous comments deemed antisemitic, and removing her from the committee. One Republican, Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio, voted present, NBC News reports.

NOW – House Republicans have passed a resolution to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over past comments about Israel. pic.twitter.com/75NlvUxvbF

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 2, 2023

Prior to her removal, Omar gave an emotional and defiant floor speech, blaming her ouster on racism.

“There is this idea that you are a suspect if you are an immigrant, or if you are from certain parts of the world or a certain skin tone, or a Muslim. It is no accident that members of the Republican Party accused the first black president, Barack Obama, of being a secret Muslim,” she said, adding “Well, I am Muslim.”

“I am an immigrant, and interestingly, from Africa. Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? Is anyone surprised that I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American foreign policy? Or that they see me as a powerful voice that needs to be silenced?”

Ilhan Omar closes the debate and says, “this debate today is about who gets to me an American … I am Muslim. I am an immigrant … is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? … I am an American. pic.twitter.com/vKNzXXJSse

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023

…as did her allies.

Rashida Tlaib literally breaks down in tears over Ilhan Omar being removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee. pic.twitter.com/Q81minIxvJ

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 2, 2023

“This about targeting women of color!” — AOC’s impassioned defense of Ilhan Omar pic.twitter.com/8vqr5tNy6z

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023

On Sunday, Omar attempted to do damage control ahead of this week’s vote – telling CNN that she didn’t realize she was being anti-Semitic when she said that “Israel has hypnotized the world” while doing “evil.”

Ilhan Omar on CNN: “I might’ve used words at the time that I didn’t understand were trafficking in anti-Semitism. When that was brought to my attention, I apologized, I owned up to it. That’s the kind of person that I am.” pic.twitter.com/4vZ4kqq6ht

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 29, 2023