Omar ended call with Boebert after she 'refused to publicly acknowledge' anti-Muslim remarks
During a tense phone call on Monday, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said she would not publicly apologize to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for anti-Muslim remarks she made about her last week.
Last week, a recording circulated on social media featuring Boebert calling Omar part of the "jihad squad" and saying she could safely ride an elevator in the Capitol as long as she didn't have a backpack. In a video posted to Instagram on Monday, Boebert said she "reflected on my previous remarks, now as a strong Christian woman who values faith deeply, I never want anything I say to offend someone's religion."
During their call, she added, Omar asked for a public apology, and in turn Boebert said she wanted Omar to apologize for comments Boebert said were "anti-American," "anti-Semitic," and "anti-police." Omar has criticized the Israeli government and is in favor of police reforms.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Omar said in a statement that she hung up on Boebert after she "refused to publicly acknowledge her hurtful and dangerous comments. She instead doubled down on her rhetoric and I decided to end the unproductive call." Omar added that she believes in "engaging with those we disagree with respectfully, but not when the disagreement is rooted in outright bigotry and hate. To date, the Republican Party leadership has done nothing to condemn and hold their own members accountable for repeated instances of anti-Muslim hate and harassment." She called on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to take action.
Boebert described Omar as being part of "the jihad squad" during an event in September and has also falsely called her "an honorary member of Hamas" who is "a terrorist sympathizer," Politico reports. Earlier this month, her GOP colleague Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) was censured and stripped of his committees after sharing on social media an altered anime video depicting the killing of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
How safe are cruise ships in storms?
The Explainer The vessels are always prepared
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Peru for final summits
Speed Read President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, visit the Amazon rainforest and attend two major international summits
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate GOP selects Thune, House GOP keeps Johnson
Speed Read John Thune will replace Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader, and Mike Johnson will remain House speaker in Congress
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump tests GOP loyalty with Gaetz, Gabbard picks
Speed Read He named Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney general and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Both have little experience in their proposed jurisdictions.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published