Barack Obama slams Trump over federal probe into Ilhan Omar’s 20-year-old naturalization records: ‘…no reason to believe it will stop with her’
‘Think about that.’
Barack Obama publicly condemned President Donald Trump over a federal criminal probe examining Representative Ilhan Omar’s naturalization papers. The former president posted his pointed critique directly on X early on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Federal investigators are looking into paperwork that dates back over twenty years.
According to The Hill, Obama claimed the current administration is actively targeting political opponents to remove them from public office. He alleged the inquiry seeks to strip Omar of her American citizenship and deport her. Omar came to the country from Somalia when she was 12 years old with her father. Her father became a naturalized citizen five years later, granting her automatic citizenship at age 17.
Officials claim she may have been 18 at the time of her father’s naturalization. That age difference would have required her to file an independent application for naturalization. Omar’s father, Nur Omar Mohamed, passed away in June 2020, leaving historical paperwork as the primary evidence.
Obama called this pursuit an unsubstantiated theory designed to harm a vocal political critic
Federal agents raided Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence on October 12, seizing her phone and personal records. The raid occurred just weeks before the November midterm elections, where Omar remains on the ballot. Her legal team sent a letter accusing the Department of Justice (DOJ) of attempting to influence an election. They claimed the search violated longstanding internal policy within the department.
Obama offered strong support for the Minnesota Democrat in his extensive statement on X. “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,” Obama said. He added, “But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.”
The former president explained, “Congresswoman Omar came to this country with her father when she was 12 years old. Five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen. If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately. But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically.”
Border czar Homan had said that denaturalization was an option
Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, confirmed on Saturday that denaturalization remains an option. When asked if Omar could face deportation, Homan answered, “Of course”. “If you lie during the naturalization process, there is a process to denaturalize somebody,” Homan said. He continued, “We’ve done it before. It’s a long, tedious process, but it’s been done before. And certainly, if the evidence points that way, that could happen.”
According to The Guardian, Homan also suggested that authorities possess other undisclosed details about the case. “I’m not going to go there,” Homan said. He stated, “I know things, but that’s a question for the FBI.” His public statements mark the first named confirmation from an administration official regarding potential deportation.
President Trump denied personal involvement in the active federal probe when reporters questioned him earlier. “I’ve always found her to be totally crooked, personally, but that has nothing to do with me,” Trump said. He stated the matter remains entirely in the hands of the Justice Department.
Obama argued that this probe mirrors past efforts against other prominent public figures
He pointed to previous inquiries involving New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. Federal Reserve members faced similar pressure during disputes with the administration as well. Obama noted those earlier cases stalled or collapsed due to a lack of legal standing.
He argued the current proceedings inflict serious damage regardless of the ultimate courtroom result. “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. Omar has denied all wrongdoing, maintaining that she is facing unfair political persecution. No formal criminal charges have been filed against the Minnesota representative.
The former president warned that letting this probe continue sets an alarming precedent for future administrations. He highlighted Omar’s path as a community organizer and the first Somali American legislator elected to public office. “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,” Obama stated.
This investigation occurs alongside broader federal efforts to scrutinize legal migration and past naturalization records nationwide. The administration has pursued dozens of cases to denaturalize citizens who allegedly gained status through false statements. Denaturalization needs a federal investigation followed by lengthy court proceedings, making quick outcomes quite unlikely.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
