Barack Obama Blasts Trump Over Ilhan Omar Citizenship Probe, Accuses Him of Trying to Deport Her

Former President Barack Obama is accusing President Donald Trump’s administration of politically targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar as federal investigators examine the Minnesota Democrat’s citizenship history. The White House rejected Obama’s charge, defending the investigation and accusing the Biden administration of politicizing the Justice Department.

In a lengthy statement posted Sunday on X, Obama argued that the federal government must not single out people because of their political views.

“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.

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

Obama said investigators were pursuing Omar because of her criticism of Trump, not legitimate questions about her citizenship. The statement followed a federal search of Omar’s Washington, D.C., home as part of an investigation into her immigration history. Sources previously told Fox News Digital that investigators were examining whether Omar or her father provided false information on immigration paperwork.

Obama defended Omar’s account of how she became a U.S. citizen after arriving from Somalia. He said she came to the United States with her father at age 12 and automatically became a citizen at 17, when her father was naturalized. He described the theory that she was 18 at the time as “unsubstantiated.”

“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.

The White House pushed back in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. Spokeswoman Lauren Bis said the administration was focused on law enforcement and public safety.

“Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump has not weaponized the Department of Justice against his political foes,” Bis said.

“The Department is focused on restoring law and order and keeping Americans safe.”

Trump has previously denied directing the investigation. Speaking to reporters, he said the Justice Department was handling the matter.

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

Obama broadened his criticism, citing federal actions involving New York’s attorney general, a former FBI director and members of the Federal Reserve. He argued that investigations targeting people for their political positions should concern Americans regardless of their views of Omar.

“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.

“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.”

The investigation remains ongoing. Omar has denied wrongdoing, while the White House says the Justice Department is enforcing the law. No finding of guilt has been announced.