Rep. Ilhan Omar claimed Wednesday that a syringe attack against her during a North Minneapolis town hall was motivated by anger over deportation policy and suggested President Trump bears responsibility for the incident, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference at Karmel Mall in Minneapolis, Omar said the suspect was upset that deportations of Somalis were not occurring at a pace he wanted.
“The man that attacked me was specifically upset that Trump’s order to deport Somalis was not yielding enough deportations of Somalis,” Omar said. “He wanted to come get the person he thought was protecting the Somalis.”
OMAR: “The man that attacked me was specifically upset that Trump’s order to deport Somalis was not yielding enough deportations of Somalis.”
“He wanted to come get the person he thought was protecting the Somalis. Well, we are protected by the Constitution.” pic.twitter.com/kKWWkTwvmQ [2]
— Make Europe Great Again – M.E.G.A (@ScaryEurope) January 29, 2026 [3]
The attack occurred Tuesday night when a man later identified as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak rushed the stage during the town hall and sprayed Omar with a liquid using a syringe, according to witnesses and video footage.
Authorities later determined the substance was apple cider vinegar.
Kazmierczak was taken into custody and is being held on third-degree assault charges. A neighbor described him as being “heavily medicated” and a supporter of President Trump.
Omar was not injured and resumed her remarks at the town hall shortly after the incident.
Addressing the issue of responsibility, Omar said, “Blame is very interesting, but facts are more important.” She claimed “the facts” show that threats against her increase when President Trump criticizes her publicly.
According to Omar, “every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket.”
Omar said those threats “plummeted” during the four years Trump was out of office and later rose to what she described as the highest level among members of Congress after Trump “reassumed his vitriol.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am at today — having to pay for security, having the government to think about providing me security — if Donald Trump wasn’t in office and if he wasn’t so obsessed with me,” Omar said.
She also referenced remarks Trump made at a rally in Iowa on Tuesday night, shortly before the attack occurred. “It is ironic that just last night, [Trump] was on stage, moments before I was attacked, talking about me,” she said.
“Then, when asked about my attack, he said, ‘I don’t think about her.’ Does he not remember? Is he suffering from dementia?”
He [Trump] was on stage, moments before I was ATTACKED, talking about me — Trump
‘Then when asked about my attack he said, I don’t think about her
Does he not remember?’
‘Is he suffering from dementia?’
Sound like a stunt? pic.twitter.com/KhQxFOwcEd [4]— durgeshkdubey (@ToolsTech4All) January 29, 2026 [5]
During the Iowa rally, Trump told supporters that the Minnesota congresswoman “comes from a country that’s a disaster.” He added, “It’s considered, I think, the worst [country]. It’s not even a country.”
After news of the incident broke, Trump told ABC News that Omar “probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
Just spoke to Pres. Trump. I asked him if he had seen the video of Rep. Omar being attacked and sprayed by a substance.
“No. I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud. I really don’t think about that. She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her,” the president said.
I…
— Rachel Scott (@rachelvscott) January 28, 2026 [6]
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The investigation into the attack remains ongoing as authorities review video footage and witness statements from the town hall event.