Rep. Ilhan Omar has once again ignited controversy, this time by claiming that Somalia—a war-torn nation plagued by Sharia law and Islamic extremism—is more free than the United States under President Donald Trump.

In a recent appearance on “Democracy Now!”, the Minnesota Democrat and Somali-born lawmaker declared, “I grew up in a dictatorship, and I don’t even remember ever witnessing anything like that.” She added, “To have a democracy, a beacon of hope for the world, to now be turned into one of the worst countries where the military are in our streets without any regard for people’s constitutional rights.”

Omar’s assertion that America is becoming more oppressive than Somalia drew swift pushback—especially from BlazeTV’s Sara Gonzales. Gonzales pointed out the obvious contradiction: “You were not even born here, sorry. You don’t get to lecture me on what President Trump does and whether or not it’s a dictatorship.”

Omar further compared Trump to “a failed dictator with a military parade” and mourned what she described as a fallen American ideal: “This was not the country we were born in.” That particular line didn’t sit well with Gonzales, who noted Omar’s refugee status and U.S. citizenship came after fleeing the very regime she’s now praising.

Gonzales fired back with facts that contrasted Somalia’s history with Trump’s record. She listed key actions by Trump that reflect a constitutional approach to governance, not authoritarianism: ending DEI-linked foreign aid, revoking over 100 Biden-era policies, initiating mass deportations of illegal immigrants, declaring a national border emergency, withdrawing from the WHO and Paris Climate Accords, and pardoning pro-life activists and January 6 defendants.

“That doesn’t sound very dictator-ish to me,” Gonzales quipped.

She then walked viewers through Somalia’s disturbing recent past. In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union seized control of most of the country and imposed Sharia law. Later, an even more radical faction launched a civil war that led to horrific punishments for citizens—including executions and limb amputations for minor offenses like theft or dress code violations.

Gonzales also reminded viewers that in 2021, Somalia’s president signed a law extending his term indefinitely and refused to step down when challenged. “But yes, no totally,” she said with sarcasm. “This is just like Somalia, where President Trump is trying to protect American citizens and roll back regulations—rather than cut people’s hands off when they steal.”

The absurdity of Omar’s comparison hasn’t gone unnoticed. Critics say it’s not just a tone-deaf remark, but a dangerous distortion of both reality and history. Trump, love him or hate him, was democratically elected and governed under the U.S. Constitution. He never suspended elections, jailed opposition leaders, or dismantled basic freedoms. Meanwhile, Somalia remains one of the most dangerous, unstable countries on Earth, with widespread poverty, civil conflict, and radical Islamic rule.

This latest controversy is nothing new for Omar, who has frequently come under fire for inflammatory statements about the United States and its allies. But comparing America—under any president—to Somalia crosses a line that even many of her usual defenders find indefensible.

As critics rightly note, if Omar really believes Somalia is better than America, one might wonder why she left—and why she hasn’t gone back.