Since leaving the White House, former President Barack Obama has spent much of his time avoiding direct confrontation with his successor, President Donald Trump.
However, the federal investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar appears to have drawn Obama back into the political fray. He accused the administration of weaponizing the government against Omar, one of Trump’s most outspoken critics.
In a sharply worded statement Sunday, Obama defended Omar’s U.S. citizenship, challenged the basis for the investigation and warned that the administration’s actions threaten a fundamental democratic principle: that Americans should not face government retaliation for their political beliefs.
His intervention came days after federal agents searched the Minnesota Democrat’s Washington-area home as part of an investigation into immigration documents dating back to her childhood.
“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. But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota,” Obama wrote on X.
The former president went on to explain why he believes the allegations against Omar lack a sound basis. Born in Somalia, Omar came to the United States with her father at 12 and later became a naturalized citizen. Obama said her father became a naturalized citizen five years after their arrival, when Omar was 17.
Because she was under 18 at the time, Obama said, she automatically became a naturalized citizen through her father rather than having to apply separately.
Omar, 44, became the first Somali American elected to public office in the United States before winning a seat in Congress. She has since become one of Trump’s most outspoken critics, repeatedly facing attacks from the president over her background and political views.
Obama argued that the administration’s renewed scrutiny of her immigration status appears tied to those criticisms. He said investigators were pursuing an unsubstantiated theory that Omar was actually 18 when her father became a citizen, which could undermine her citizenship status.
“Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen,” Obama wrote. “Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case.”
Federal agents searched Omar’s residence last Monday under a judicially authorized warrant, according to the Justice Department. Officials described the search as part of an ongoing criminal investigation but did not specify the allegations in the department’s public statement.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin later said investigators had served multiple warrants that day and expected to present their case to a grand jury. Speaking on the “Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, Mullin described the investigation as a “strong case” and suggested that alleged immigration fraud involving multiple people could potentially be investigated under federal racketeering laws, according to CBS News.
Mullin did not say prosecutors were pursuing racketeering charges against Omar. She has not been charged with a crime, and she has denied any wrongdoing.
The congresswoman condemned the search as political intimidation. Her office called it “an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies,” adding, “The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong.”
Trump, who previously said he did not know about the investigation, offered little defense of Omar when asked about the search last week.
“I think she’s a terrible person, but that’s really up to the DOJ,” he told reporters.
Obama, meanwhile, portrayed the investigation as part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration targeting people the president views as political opponents. He pointed to actions involving former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and members of the Federal Reserve, arguing that previous cases had stalled or judges had dismissed them.
“Think about that. 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 wrote. “And it’s not the first time this has happened.”
The dispute also raises questions about the administration’s timing. The search took place 22 days before the midterm elections, even as Trump has previously accused the Justice Department of interfering in elections through investigative actions close to voting day.
Obama warned that letting the government pursue elected officials over their political speech could set a dangerous precedent, regardless of party affiliation.
“The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views,” he wrote. “Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.”
The former president’s criticism drew enthusiastic reactions on social media, with commenters praising him for speaking out against Trump’s treatment of Omar.
“Come on Mr President!” one person concurred. “When real leadership speaks,” another added.
Others made it clear where they stood on the issue. “God bless you, BO. Shame on you, DT!!!”
Another commenter asked why congressional Democrats hadn’t issued a similar statement.
“Outstanding! I don’t know why this didn’t come from Jeffries or Schumer, but we can always count on BO.”
Obama initially sought to avoid the political battles that followed his presidency, but he has criticized Trump more often. He has also backed Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections, as Republicans face the possibility of significant losses.
This isn’t the first time Omar’s immigration records have drawn federal scrutiny. During Trump’s first term, immigration officials examined her records for possible fraud but found no problems with her naturalization, former officials told The Washington Post.
“I think her citizenship is solid and there wasn’t any fraud there,” one former official told the newspaper.