Obama backs Ilhan Omar amid probe, accuses Trump admin of ‘appalling’targeting in lengthy statement

Former PresidentBarack Obamaaccused the Trump administration of weaponizing the federal government against its political enemies in a social media post defending Rep.Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., amid an investigation into the progressive lawmaker’s citizenship.

Obama claimed the administration is attempting to strip Omar of her U.S.citizenship and deport her over her criticism of PresidentDonald Trump, warning that the effort could set a dangerous precedent.

“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 wrote Sunday on X.“But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.”

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Obama’s remarks come after federal agentssearched Omar’s Washington, D.C., homeas part of a criminal investigation into her immigration status.

com/category/person/ilhan-omar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omaror her father committed fraud on immigration paperwork when she became a U.S.citizen decades ago.

Rep.Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks at a news conference ahead of the State of the Union address at the U.S.Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb.24, 2026.(Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Obama defended the circumstances under which Omar became a U.S.citizen, saying, “To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts.”

Obama then said Omar arrived in the United States with her father at age 12 and automatically became a citizen at 17 when her father was naturalized.

The former president accused investigators of pursuing an “unsubstantiated theory” that Omar was actually 18 at the time, which he said would have required her to apply for citizenship separately.

Former President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally, Oct.24, 2024, in Clarkston, Ga.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

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“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.

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The White House pushed back on Obama�

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“Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump has not weaponized the Department of Justice against his political foes,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said.“The Department is focused on restoring law and order and keeping Americans safe.”

Trump has denied involvement in the investigation, previously telling reporters that the matter was up to the Justice Department.

President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Oncenter, on Friday, Oct.9, 2026, in Syracuse, N.Y.(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

“I’ve always found her to be totally crooked, personally, but that has nothing to do with me,” Trump said.

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Obama also accused the administration of repeatedly targeting perceived political opponents, pointing to federal actions involving New York’s attorney general, a formerFBI directorand members of the Federal Reserve.

“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,” Obama wrote.

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“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.”

�s Peter D’Abrosca and Amanda Macias contributed to this report.