Is ‘squad’ member Ilhan Omar ‘married to her brother’? Trump’s odd claim about Democrat

Donald Trump has faced backlash around the world since the weekend when he posted a racist tweet about four congresswomen who criticised migrant detention centre conditions. The 73-year-old US President shared a three-tweet thread where he accused four female Democrats of “viciously” criticising him and the USA, after three of the women spoke out about the conditions of migrant detention centres they had visited, describing alleged mistreatment happening “under American flags”. So what remarkable suggestion has Mr Trump now alleged regarding Somalian-born squad member Ilhan Omar?

President Trump has sparked widespread controversy since he called for four women of colour to “go back” to the “totally broken and crime infested places” they came from.

These women are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley, all of whom were born in the US, and Ilhan Omar, who came to America as a refugee at the age of 12.

On Sunday, Mr Trump tweeted: “So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly……

“….and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how….

“….it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!”

The four congresswomen at the centre of Donald Trump’s racist tweet controversy tore into the president on Monday, condemning him on everything from his “inhumane” policies at the border to his “weak” mind and the “bile of garbage” that comes from his mouth.

The so-called “squad” also dismissed his remarks as a distraction and urged the US people “not to take the bait” at a news conference on Monday.

But the President then went one step further, making a bizarre accusation against Ilhan Omar.

Using a 2020 campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina, Donald Trump suggested Ms Omar should be investigated for marrying her brother. 

Responding to a question from Fox News, he said: “There’s a lot of talk about the fact that she was married to her brother. 

“I know nothing about it. I hear she was married to her brother. 

“You’re asking me a question about it. I don’t know, but I’m sure that somebody will be looking at that.”

In 2016, when she ran for and won a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, rumours circulated suggesting she had previously married her brother.

Ms Omar has categorically denied this, calling the rumours “disgusting lies”.

The politician has previously spoken out about her love life.

She had become engaged to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi (né Aden) in 2002. , a man who she identifies as her cultural husband and father of her children.

The couple applied for a marriage license but the application was not finalised, however, they did have a faith-based marriage.

The couple went on to have two children together before separating in 2008. 

The next year, Omar married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British citizen. 

Following Somali tradition, Mr Elmi’s name follows the custom of being named after his father, which happens to be the same name as Ms Omar’s father. 

In 2011, she and Mr Elmi had a faith-based divorce, and that year she reconciled with Hirsi, with whom she had a third child in 2012. 

In 2017, Mr Elmi and Mr Omar were legally divorced, and a year later Ms Omar and Mr Hirsi were legally married.

source: express.co.uk