Washington — President Donald Trump has called for Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to be “sent back where they came from” following a protest during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The remarks, made on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, represent a sharp escalation in rhetoric against the two Democratic congresswomen and reach amid ongoing debate over immigration policy in the United States.
The controversy stems from an exchange during Trump’s address to Congress, where Omar, a Somali American, and Tlaib, a Palestinian American, voiced their objections to the president’s statements on immigration enforcement. The incident has sparked a national conversation about the boundaries of political protest and the targeting of minority lawmakers.
Trump described the two lawmakers as behaving like “crooked and corrupt politicians” and suggested they should be removed from the U.S. He went on to offer a highly critical and personal assessment of their behavior during the speech. “When you watch Low IQ Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, as they screamed uncontrollably last night at the very elegant State of the Union, such an important and attractive event, they had the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, gaze like they should be institutionalised,” Trump wrote.
“When people can behave like that, and knowing that they are Crooked and Corrupt Politicians, so subpar for our Country, we should send them back from where they came – as fast as possible,” he continued. “They can only damage the United States of America, they can do nothing to help it.”
According to reports, Omar and Tlaib were among several Democratic members who voiced their dissent during the State of the Union address. CNN reported that the two congresswomen specifically challenged Trump’s characterization of Minnesota’s Somali community and his administration’s immigration policies.
The president’s comments echo previous instances where he has faced criticism for remarks perceived as targeting minority groups. Al Jazeera noted that this latest outburst occurred just four hours before publication, further fueling the controversy. NBC News likewise covered the story, highlighting the swift condemnation from various political figures.
Omar was born in Somalia and immigrated to the United States as a child, while Tlaib was born in Michigan. The president’s demand that they be “sent back” has been widely condemned as xenophobic and discriminatory. The development underscores the increasingly polarized political climate in the U.S. And the challenges facing lawmakers from diverse backgrounds.
