January 1, Ilhan Omar Claims Ignorance Over Antisemitic Remarks — But People Aren’t Buying It

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) recently came under fire after claiming she was unaware of the “tropes about Jews and money.”

The far-left congresswoman has been accused of making antisemitic remarks in the past. CNN’s Dana Bash pressed Omar over her rhetoric, citing several examples, including when Omar said “Israel has hypnotized the world,” and that America’s support for Israel is “all about the Benjamins.”

“I might have used words at the time that I didn’t understand were trafficking in antisemitism,” Omar said.

“When that was brought to my attention, I apologized. I owned up to it,” she added. “That’s the kind of person that I am, and I continue to work with my colleagues and my community to fight against antisemitism.”

As the interview continued, Omar insinuated that the Republican-led chamber had removed her from her committee assignments because of bigotry. But Bash wasn’t finished pressing the congresswoman on her past remarks.

“So when you apologized for the ‘All about the Benjamins’ comment, you said, ‘antisemitism is real, and I’m grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of antisemitic tropes.’ What did you learn?” Bash asked.

“A lot. I certainly did not, or was not aware, that the word ‘hypnotized’ was a trope,” Omar responded. “I wasn’t aware of the fact that there are tropes about Jews and money. That has been a very enlightening part of this journey. To insinuate that I knowingly said these things when people have read into my comments to make it sound as if I have something against the Jewish community is so wrong.”

Omar accused of being ‘not only an antisemite but also a bad liar’

Soon after Omar pleaded ignorance, the congresswoman faced backlash, with critics across the political spectrum accusing her of lying.

Steve Guest, the special adviser for communications for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), tweeted: “Give me a break. That’s BS.”

Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar claims on CNN that she was "not aware that the word 'hypnotized' was a trope" and "wasn't aware of the fact that there are tropes about Jews and money."

Give me a break. That's BS. pic.twitter.com/YesRd4RpNI

— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 29, 2023

Avi Mayer, the former managing director of public affairs and senior spokesperson for the American Jewish Committee, tweeted: “Ilhan Omar employed one antisemitic trope in 2012, after which she said learned all about antisemitism ‘from Jewish orgs.’ She then employed another one in 2019. But she didn’t know there are tropes about Jews and money? Who believes this stuff?”

Ilhan Omar employed one antisemitic trope in 2012, after which she said learned all about antisemitism "from Jewish orgs."

She then employed another one in 2019.

But she didn't know there are tropes about Jews and money? 🤔

Who believes this stuff?pic.twitter.com/9TXyuJe9Jy

— Avi Mayer אבי מאיר (@AviMayer) January 30, 2023

Joy Behar, a co-host of The View, said: “She said that she did not know that what she said that was construed as anti-Semitic — she did not know that was what they call a trope, a Jewish trope … that people equate money with Jews, for instance. I don’t believe her.”

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Source: New York Post