Rep. Ilhan Omar Attacked In Minnesota; Trump Rolls Back Cooperation With Local Officials
A man charged at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and sprayed her with an unknown substance — what police think was apple cider vinegar — from a syringe at a town hall in Minneapolis late Tuesday. Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, was tackled by security, arrested, and now faces an assault charge.
What we know about the suspect: Kazmierczak shared photos supporting President Trump on his Facebook account and a neighbor characterized him as a “pretty conservative guy” who “doesn’t like Omar.”
At the time he sprayed Omar, she was calling for Homeland Security Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment over her handling of the Minneapolis shootings.
Trump, who has frequently attacked Omar over the years, suggested without evidence that the incident was staged: “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
Congressional lawmakers, including Republicans, condemned the attack. U.S. Capitol Police said Tuesday they are “working with our federal partners to see this man faces the most serious charges possible to deter this kind of violence in our society.”
TROUBLING TREND: A report out Tuesday shows that threats toward members of Congress and/or their families rose by 57% last year from 2024 to nearly 15,000.
IS NOEM ON THE WAY OUT?
Calls for Noem’s resignation are growing, including from a bipartisan group of senators who had voted to confirm her. Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) all backed Noem but are now urging her to step down. Noem was confirmed just over a year ago with a 59-34 vote.
Trump responded by calling Murkowski and Tillis “losers,” and rejected the calls to remove Noem.
Inside the Trump administration, officials have reportedly been pointing fingers over the early and inaccurate claims made about Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse killed by federal agents last weekend.
Shortly after the shooting, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller labeled Pretti a “would-be assassin.” Noem said Pretti “committed an act of domestic terrorism.” Both claims were later contradicted by videos of the shooting. President Trump also distanced the administration from those characterizations.
BIGGER PICTURE
Tensions with federal immigration authorities continue to rise — and they’re playing out across the country. Videos circulating on social media appear to show federal agents threatening protesters this week, even as the Trump administration has tried to shift its tone.
