Ilhan Omar Celebrates Eight Muslims in Congress, Vows ‘Justice and Accountability’ Against Trump

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota celebrated the growing number of Muslim lawmakers in Congress on Wednesday following Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate victory in Michigan, while issuing a sharp warning to President Donald Trump that his administration would face demands for accountability over its treatment of Minnesota residents.

Omar, one of the most outspoken critics of Trump in Congress, welcomed El-Sayed’s election as a milestone for Muslim political representation in Washington, noting that eight Muslims would now serve in the House and Senate.

“Congratulations, Abdul El-Sayed. You turned that inshallah into alhamdulillah,” Omar wrote on X, using Arabic expressions meaning, respectively, “God willing” and “praise be to God.”

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude knowing that we will now have 8 Muslims serving in Congress,” the Minnesota Democrat continued.

El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan represents a significant development for Muslim representation in American politics, adding another prominent Muslim elected official to Congress following Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Omar portrayed the election results as a victory over those who had questioned whether Muslim candidates could achieve greater political influence in Washington.

“They told us we couldn’t speak up, couldn’t challenge the status quo, and couldn’t make it this far. But we did,” she wrote.

Omar’s remarks came shortly after El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s closely watched Senate race, becoming the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate. The 42-year-old physician and former Detroit health director won by approximately seven percentage points, retaining the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, had defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary with support from progressive figures including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. His campaign advocated expanded government-funded health care and took strongly critical positions toward Israel, including accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

The Michigan race attracted national attention after Trump repeatedly attacked El-Sayed during the campaign, calling him a “jihadist” and accusing him of sympathizing with terrorist organizations. Trump also alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, accusations El-Sayed rejected and for which no supporting evidence was established.

The incoming Muslim lawmakers include Omar, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, André Carson of Indiana, Lateefah Simon of California, Adam Hamawy of New Jersey, Darializa Avila Chevalier of New York and El-Sayed. California Democrat Aisha Wahab, whose race had not yet been called Wednesday afternoon, could bring the total to eight.

Just minutes after celebrating the election results, Omar turned her attention directly to Trump, accusing his administration of mistreating Minnesota residents and promising to pursue accountability.

“We’re getting justice and accountability for every single Minnesotan who’s suffered under Trump’s terrorization of our state,” Omar declared.

The Minnesota congresswoman has been involved in a longstanding confrontation with Trump over immigration enforcement, federal investigations and the administration’s treatment of Minnesota’s Somali community.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Omar and Somali immigrants, accusing Minnesota of being overwhelmed by crime and calling for tougher federal intervention. Omar and other Democrats have accused the administration of targeting immigrant communities and using federal enforcement powers for political purposes.

Omar herself won reelection Tuesday to a fifth term in Congress, defeating Republican John Nagel despite an ongoing federal investigation into allegations concerning her immigration history and financial disclosures. Omar has denied wrongdoing and characterized the investigation as politically motivated.

Her latest warning comes as Democrats prepare to assume control of both the House and Senate following sweeping midterm victories, giving them expanded authority to investigate the Trump administration, hold congressional hearings and challenge its policies.

Omar did not specify which investigations or legal proceedings she intends to pursue against the administration, but her promise of “justice and accountability” signals that she intends to use the Democrats’ newly strengthened position in Washington to press her longstanding grievances against Trump.