Cameras Catch Ilhan Omar Laughing at Site of Minn. Church Tragedy

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing backlash after being photographed smiling during her visit to the site of Wednesday’s deadly Catholic school attack in her Minneapolis district.

Omar, who represents the area where Annunciation Catholic School is located, appeared at the scene Thursday and gave remarks to reporters, calling the shooting an “unspeakable horror.”

“My heart breaks for the families and the victims of this tragic mourning year in Minneapolis,” she said, adding that authorities don’t “know much” about the shooter apart from the fact that he was found dead at the scene.

“We are going to learn more about motives and what more can be done to make sure we can avoid tragedies like this,” Omar added.

But while Omar spoke somberly, a viral photo captured her earlier in the day smiling broadly as she mingled with onlookers outside Assumption Church. Critics blasted the image as tone-deaf given that two children were killed and 17 others wounded in the attack.

Omar, who has previously been accused of making anti-Christian and anti-Semitic remarks, has become a frequent media presence in the wake of the tragedy. On CNN, she attempted to strike a unifying note, saying:
“When Congress returns next week, I am calling on my colleagues, for us to put aside our differences and recognize that partisanship is not saving our children.”

She added on X (formerly Twitter), “We need to figure out a way as a nation to resolve this uniquely American issue. Enough is enough.”

By “uniquely American issue,” Omar was clearly pointing the finger at law-abiding gun owners — echoing the left’s long-standing push to disarm citizens, rather than focusing on the radicalized, transgender-identifying shooter who carried out the massacre.

Appearing on MSNBC, Omar spoke of the “power of prayer” while once again blaming firearms for the tragedy.

She later issued a lengthy statement, saying:
“I am beyond heartbroken over the tragic news of the shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. The loss of life is unthinkable. As a mom and Minneapolis resident, my heart is utterly shattered. I will keep praying for all the families impacted by this tragedy.

“I am especially thinking of the two beautiful children who lost their lives in this senseless act of violence. While we do not yet know the shooter’s specific motivations, we do know that children and schools are all too often the victims of horrific violence in this country. We cannot continue to fail our kids with the lack of federal action. It is beyond despicable that elected leaders are more concerned with appeasing the gun lobby than keeping our children safe. The horror that children and educators went through today, while they were praying, should not have happened. I am committed to do everything I can to stop these tragedies from occurring ever again.”

She concluded: “Today our country failed our kids and I will not allow elected leaders to move on or forget this horror.”

Yet, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara contradicted Omar’s narrative, telling reporters that the motive for the attack remains “unknown” despite evidence pointing toward the shooter’s anti-Christian, anti-Jewish, and anti-Trump worldview.

The contrast between Omar’s rhetoric, her viral smile at the crime scene, and law enforcement’s statements has fueled outrage among critics, who say the congresswoman is more focused on advancing her political agenda than confronting the deeper cultural and ideological issues behind the massacre.