Former President Barack Obama on Sunday condemned federal agents’ raid 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 full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president,” Obama wrote on X.
Federal agents raided the Washington home last week as part of a probe into Omar, who has been outspoken against 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 occurred during a federal holiday.
Obama also rebuked the administration’s apparent efforts to deport Omar, who was born in Somalia but was naturalized as a U.S. citizen at 17 years old.
“Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen,” Obama wrote. “Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case.”
A person familiar with the investigation has told NBC News that the possible charges against Omar cited by federal officials include conspiracy and making false statements in immigration paperwork. The Justice Department has not revealed evidence against her.
Omar tied the raid to Trump last week, calling it “an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize 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 having left office nearly a decade ago. Obama called Omar “one of the Trump administration’s fiercest critics,” which he tied to Trump’s efforts to “repeatedly single her out as someone who he believes does not belong in this country.”
“The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t 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 it was “really up to the DOJ” — and called Omar “a terrible person.” At a rally last week, Trump attacked Omar and Somali immigrants, leading to chants of “deport” from the crowd. Trump wrote on Truth Social this year that he would like to see Omar sent back to Somalia.
Obama likened Trump’s treatment of Omar to his targeting of other perceived political foes, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey and members of the Federal Reserve Board.