Ana Navarro Criticizes Trump by Comparing Melania and Ivana Trump's Origins to Ilhan Omar's
The View co-host defended Rep. Ilhan Omar amid a recent investigation, drawing parallels between Omar's immigration history and that of former President Trump's wives.
Ana Navarro, a co-host on The View, criticized former President Donald Trump's remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar by highlighting the origins of Trump's own wives, Melania and Ivana Trump. Trump had stated that Omar comes from a country "without laws, without police, without military" and questioned her right to speak about constitutional rights.
Navarro responded by pointing out that at least two of Trump's former wives, Ivana and Melania, also came from countries that were part of the former Soviet Union. Ivana Trump was born in what is now the Czech Republic before immigrating to Canada and then the United States. Melania Trump was born in Slovenia and moved to New York in 1996.
Navarro's comments came as Homeland Security agents reportedly searched the Washington residence of Rep. Omar. Omar, who immigrated to the U.S. at age 12 with her family after they were granted asylum, has been a frequent target of Trump's rhetoric. Trump has previously suggested Omar is in the country illegally, despite her obtaining U.S. citizenship.
Navarro suggested that Trump's focus on Omar is an attempt to energize his base, stating, "He's been obsessed with Ilhan Omar for years now and the Republican base hates her. I think what he's doing is literally throwing red meat at the base because red meat is too expensive to buy!"
Omar herself responded to the investigation and Trump's remarks, calling it "the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation." She stated that for ten years, Trump has targeted her with "baseless lies and smear campaigns" and accused him of attempting to "weaponize" law enforcement agencies.
The investigation into Omar's home occurred just weeks before the midterm elections, a timing that broke with established Justice Department policies. Separately, the Office of Congressional Conduct dismissed misconduct allegations against Omar last month concerning a reporting error in her financial disclosures.