Trump claims Ilhan Omar may have staged town hall syringe attack: 'Probably had herself sprayed'

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, January 28, 2026

President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., may have staged the assault against her during a town hall event Tuesday evening in Minneapolis, echoing conspiracy allegations that emerged on social media. 

"I don't think about her. I think she's a fraud," Trump told ABC News when asked about Omar being sprayed by an audience member with a liquid determined to be apple cider vinegar. "She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her."

"I haven't seen it. No, no. I hope I don't have to bother," he added when asked if he had seen a video of the incident.

Omar, who was speaking to constituents in north Minneapolis on Tuesday, was calling on U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign when Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, is seen jumping from his seat in the first row and spraying Omar's chest with liquid from a syringe.

???? BREAKING: Unknown individual just charged up to Ilhan Omar in middle of a town hall event and sprayed her with some kind of substance as she was calling for Secretary Noem to resign or face impeachment. pic.twitter.com/R29atuEKQW

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 28, 2026

A bystander noted the foul-smelling nature of the liquid as security tackled Kazmierczak, who was later arrested by Minneapolis police and charged with third-degree assault, according to the New York Post.

"Tonight, a man is in custody after he decided to assault a Member of Congress — an unacceptable decision that will be met with swift justice," the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement, adding that they are "working with our federal partners to see this man faces the most serious charges possible to deter this kind of violence in our society."

Omar remained defiant during the incident, dismissing calls for a medical examination after appearing to charge at Kazmierczak before he was tackled by security.

"No, we will continue. I'm fine," Omar said. "These [expletives] are not going to get away with it."

Omar's act of chasing after her attacker instead of reflexively ducking has prompted conspiracy theories on social media that she staged the incident to help her image amid the political turmoil in her congressional district and scrutiny into her finances, campaign spending and foreign ties.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., was among those claiming it was a hoax and called for Omar to be jailed on Wednesday.

"This was staged. At the end of the day, this is the Democrats playing games," Tuberville told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson.

"Ilhan Omar needs to be in jail. She's as guilty as they come. Third-world country and $30 million? Hey, this is a great country, and they shouldn't be trying to change it like they are, if somebody like her can make $30 million," said Tuberville, referencing Omar's skyrocketing net worth since becoming a member of Congress.

Republican Senator Says The Attack on Ilhan Omar Was FAKE, Demands She Be Thrown In Jail:

SEN. TUBERVILLE: "This was staged. At the end of the day, this is the Democrats palying games. Ilhan Omar needs to be in jail. She's as guilty as they come." pic.twitter.com/vGsb0SN4hf

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 28, 2026

Trump has long been contemptuous of Omar, whom he has called "garbage" and accused of fraudulently enriching herself while openly disrespecting the United States. He has called for her to be jailed or deported to Somalia.

"All they do is complain, complain, complain," Trump said of Omar and other Somali immigrants in December. "You have [Omar], and she's always talking about the Constitution. Go back to your own country and figure out your Constitution. All she does is complain about this country, and without this country, she would not be in very good shape. She probably wouldn't be alive right now."