Trump says Muslim lawmakers Omar, Tlaib should be removed from US after speech clash

Reuters: President Donald Trump said that two Muslim Democratic US Representatives, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, should be “institutionalised” and sent back to “where they came from,” a day after they had a heated exchange with him during his State of the Union address.

Both Omar and Tlaib shouted “you’re killing Americans” at Trump during his speech, with Omar also calling him a “liar.”In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump said the two lawmakers “had the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, look like they should be institutionalized.”“We should send them back from where they came — as fast as possible,” Trump added.

Both Omar and Tlaib are US citizens.House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump’s remarks as “xenophobic” and “disgraceful.” Tlaib said on X that Trump’s comments showed “he is crashing out.”The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called Trump’s remarks racist.“It’s racist and bigoted to say two Muslim US lawmakers should be sent to the country they were born in or where their ancestors came from based on their criticism,” CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that members of the media have “smeared” the president as a racist.

Trump’s immigration enforcement actions have faced criticism following fatal shootings involving federal agents and deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centres this year.

During his speech, Trump repeated allegations of fraud involving Somali communities in the US. His administration has said its actions are aimed at tackling fraud and improving domestic security, while rights groups argue the crackdown has created fear among immigrant communities.

Trump also recently faced criticism over a social media post that included a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.