Rep Ilhan Omar calls Jewish students 'pro-genocide or anti-genocide' at Columbia

Editor's note: The translation of Omar's comments on Somalia and her place in Congress as a Somali-American congresswoman have been in dispute, and the contents of the translation appear to vary widely based in part on the alleged bias of the translator.

After visiting the Gaza Camp at Columbia University, Democrat Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN) called Jewish students either "pro-genocide or anti-genocide." 

In a video posted to X, Omar was asked about how her visit to the camp would translate to students who are facing antisemitism on campus. 

"I actually met a lot of Jewish students that are in the encampment," She said. 

"I think it is really unfortunate that people don't care about the fact that all Jewish kids should be kept safe," Omar noted. "We should not have to tolerate antisemitism or bigotry for all Jewish students. Whether they are pro-genocide or anti-genocide." 

In a post, author Aviva Klampass called Omar's phrasing "another way of saying 'the unacceptable Jews or the acceptable Jews.'" 

Earlier this month, Omar's daughter was arrested along with over 100 more demonstrators on the campus of Columbia University as they set up the encampment demanding that the school divest from companies or institutions that work with Israel. 

In a statement after Omar's visit last week, she said, "Throughout history, protests were co-opted and made to look bad so police and public leaders would shut them down." Omar added, "That’s what we are seeing now at Columbia University. The Columbia protesters have made clear their demands and want their school not to be complacent in the ongoing Genocide in Gaza." 

Omar has a history of making antisemitic remarks and earlier this year she was removed from her position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In January, she also revealed in a speech that her first allegiance is to Somalian interests. 

In the subtitled video, she said that she is in Congress to represent Somali Americans' interests and that the "US will do what we want and nothing else." 

After the Columbia University protests started, copycat encampments have popped up on campuses across the country. Many students have not just been protesting Israel's war against Hamas, but also have advocated for the terrorist organization directly.