President Donald Trump sparked intense backlash on Wednesday, February 26, 2026, after asserting that two Muslim congresswomen should be “sent back from where they came” following a sharp exchange during his State of the Union speech.
His provocative comments were aimed at Representatives Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who shouted in protest during Trump’s nearly two-hour address as he highlighted his administration’s immigration enforcement actions.
In a fierce Truth Social message, Trump criticized the two Democratic representatives, labeling them “Low IQ” and claiming they “had the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, look like they should be institutionalized.”
He went on to say: “When people can behave like that, and knowing that they are Crooked and Corrupt Politicians, so bad for our Country, we should send them back from where they came – as fast as possible.”
The clash broke out Tuesday evening when Trump celebrated his administration’s actions against “sanctuary cities.” Omar and Tlaib, sitting together, yelled “You have killed Americans!” — referring to two Minnesotans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by federal officers in January during Trump’s immigration operations.
Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis, later explained that she “had to remind Trump that his administration was responsible for killing two of my constituents.” Tlaib, wearing a pin reading “F–k ICE,” countered Trump’s deportation remarks with her own sharp comment on social media: “#PresidentMajnoon” — an Arabic term meaning “mad” or “possessed.”
Trump’s comments were especially significant given that both lawmakers are U.S. citizens. Omar, a Somali American, was born in Somalia but arrived as a refugee in 1995 and has been a U.S. citizen since 2000. Tlaib, a Palestinian American and the first woman of Palestinian heritage elected to Congress, was born in Detroit and has been a citizen from birth.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced Trump’s language as “xenophobic” and “disgraceful.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations also condemned the remarks, with national deputy director Edward Ahmed Mitchell calling them “racist and bigoted to say two Muslim U.S. lawmakers should be sent to the country they were born in.”
The Tuesday night dispute was not the only dramatic incident during the State of the Union. Democratic Representative Al Green was removed from the House floor for holding a sign reading “Black people aren’t apes” — a response to a racist video of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama that Trump recently shared on Truth Social.
Adding to the uproar, Omar revealed Wednesday that her State of the Union guest, 43-year-old Aliya Rahman, was escorted out by officers and charged with unlawful conduct for standing silently in the gallery during parts of Trump’s address. Rahman, a U.S. citizen with disabilities who had previously been detained by federal immigration officers in Minnesota, sustained shoulder injuries during that earlier incident.
Omar stated that Rahman was “forcibly removed, despite warning officers about her injured shoulders.” Capitol Police said Rahman failed to comply with orders to sit, noting that “all State of the Union tickets clearly explain that demonstrating is prohibited.” Rahman was transported to George Washington University Hospital before being processed at Capitol Police headquarters.
The situation unfolds amid Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement efforts, which have spurred significant concern. At least eight people have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since the beginning of 2026, following 31 ICE detention deaths last year — the highest number in more than twenty years.
During the State of the Union, Trump again accused Somali communities in the U.S. of involvement in fraud, asserting that “Somali pirates” had plundered Minnesota. His administration has stationed armed federal immigration agents in the state based on these fraud allegations.
This incident is part of a longer pattern. Trump has previously urged Omar and other minority lawmakers to “go back where they came from.” At a Pennsylvania rally in December, he said Omar “does nothing but ****” and encouraged the crowd to chant “Send her back.” During a Cabinet meeting the same month, Trump called Omar “garbage” and declared that Somalis should “go back to where they came from.”