Obama Accuses Trump Administration of 'Weaponizing Government' Against Ilhan Omar

Former President Barack Obama has accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the federal government against political opponents, issuing a strong defense of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., as she faces an investigation into her U.S. citizenship.

Obama stated on social media platform X that it is a "basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say." He added, "But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota."

The former president's remarks follow a search of Omar's Washington, D.C., home by federal agents as part of a criminal investigation into her immigration status. Sources indicated that investigators are examining whether Omar or her father committed fraud on immigration paperwork when she became a U.S. citizen decades ago.

Obama asserted that the administration is attempting to strip Omar of her U.S. citizenship and deport her due to her criticisms of President Donald Trump, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent.

"To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts," Obama wrote, explaining that Omar arrived in the United States with her father at age 12 and automatically became a citizen at 17 when her father was naturalized. He accused investigators of pursuing an "unsubstantiated theory" that Omar was 18 at the time, which would have necessitated a separate citizenship application.

"The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president," Obama stated. He cautioned that if such actions become normalized, "there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same."

President Trump has denied any involvement in the investigation, telling reporters that the matter falls under the purview of the Justice Department. He has previously described Omar as "totally crooked" but stated this had no bearing on his actions regarding the investigation.

Obama also cited other instances where he claimed the administration targeted perceived political opponents, including actions against New York's attorney general, a former FBI director, and members of the Federal Reserve. He concluded by stating that the administration's efforts to intimidate a political figure should "outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views."