Trump Calls for Deportation of Omar and Tlaib After State of the Union Protest
President Donald Trump called for the deportation of Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib following a vocal protest during his State of the Union address on February 24, 2026. The incident occurred as Trump discussed immigration policy, prompting the Democratic lawmakers to repeatedly interrupt his speech.
The Protest and Trump’s Response
During his address, Trump faced jeers from Omar and Tlaib when he addressed his administration’s immigration policies. Omar repeatedly shouted, “You have killed Americans!” CNN reported. This outburst stemmed from the fatal shootings of Minnesota residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement officers earlier in the year during “Operation Metro Surge,” an immigration enforcement effort.
Trump responded to the interruptions by accusing Democrats of cheating in elections, stating, “They have cheated, and their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat.” He further labeled the protesting lawmakers as “crazy.”
Following the address, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to demand their deportation. “When people can behave like that, and find out that they are fraudulent and corrupt politicians, which is very bad for our country, then we have to send them back to where they came from as quickly as possible,” the New York Post quoted Trump as saying. He likewise suggested they “look like they should be institutionalized.”
Background on Omar and Tlaib
Ilhan Omar, a Somali American, has been a U.S. Citizen for nearly 30 years. Rashida Tlaib is Palestinian-American and was born in Detroit, Michigan. CNN noted that neither Omar nor Tlaib is eligible for deportation.
Reactions and Further Statements
Omar responded to Trump’s comments on X, stating she had voiced her concerns during the hearing and reminded Trump that his administration was responsible for the deaths of Good and Pretti. CNN reported on her response.
The incident drew strong reactions from Democrats, with some expressing outrage at Trump’s rhetoric. NBC News detailed the clashes between Trump and Democratic representatives during the State of the Union address.