Republicans and Democrats alike closed ranks around Rep. Ilhan Omar on Tuesday night after the Minnesota lawmaker was attacked during a public town hall in Minneapolis, prompting rare bipartisan condemnation of political violence.
The incident occurred shortly after the event began, when a man appeared to confront Omar and spray a substance at her before being restrained by security. Police took the suspect into custody, and Omar was not seriously harmed. Despite concerns raised by staff and attendees, she chose to continue the town hall through its conclusion.
News of the confrontation quickly attracted responses from Republican lawmakers across the ideological spectrum, many of whom emphasized that disagreements over policy or politics do not excuse physical attacks.
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“This is totally unacceptable. I am glad Rep. Omar is okay,” Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., wrote on X after footage of the incident circulated online.
Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, reiterated that sentiment, warning that violence corrodes democratic principles. “Political, religious, and ideological differences never justify violence,” Moran wrote. “Those who resort to violence to make a political point should understand that such actions only undermine the very rights that form the foundation of our Republic.”
Others pointed to a broader trend of rising threats against lawmakers. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., said attacks and threats targeting members of Congress have intensified in recent years.
“The assault on Congresswoman Omar is disturbing and unacceptable, and the attacker must be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law,” Barrett said in a Fox News report. “This attack is the latest of thousands of acts and threats of violence directed against Congress over the past year, resulting in a 57% increase just since 2024.”
Moderate Republicans also weighed in. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., condemned the attack the following morning, saying, “I condemn the attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar that occurred yesterday.”
“We always have the right to free speech and to petition the government, but political violence must be dealt with sternly. The criminal here needs to spend some time behind bars,” Bacon added.
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Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., acknowledged her policy disagreements with Omar but said the incident crossed a clear line. “No elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are,” Mace said, noting she was “deeply disturbed” by what occurred.
Democrats also denounced the attack, though some linked it to recent political rhetoric directed at the progressive Minnesota lawmaker. Rep. Rob Menendez, D-N.J., blamed President Donald Trump, saying, “Trump’s hateful, dangerous rhetoric fuels this kind of political violence, and we must all reject it.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., shared a similar view in a post on X, writing, “It is not a coincidence that after days of President Trump and [Vice President] Vance putting Rep. Omar in their crosshairs with slanderous public attacks, she gets assaulted at her town hall.”
In a statement released after the event, Omar’s office detailed the response by law enforcement and security. “During her town hall, an agitator tried to attack the Congresswoman by spraying an unknown substance with a syringe. Security and the Minneapolis Police Department quickly apprehended the individual. He is now in custody. The Congresswoman is okay. She continued with her town hall because she doesn’t let bullies win.”
Authorities later confirmed the suspect was arrested and charged with third-degree assault.
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