Former US President Barack Obama has accused President Donald Trump of targeting Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar because of her political views.
In a post on X on Sunday, Obama said the investigation into Omar, who represents Minnesota in the US House of Representatives, breached a fundamental principle of American democracy.
“To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts,” Obama said.
“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 said Omar arrived in the United States with her father at the age of 12 and became a naturalised citizen after her father obtained US citizenship when she was 17.
He alleged that the Trump administration was seeking to deport the congresswoman based on an unsubstantiated claim that she was 18 when her father became a citizen and should therefore have applied for citizenship independently.
The former president also criticised federal agents for searching Omar’s home and confiscating her phone and personal records, describing the actions as an improper use of government authority against an elected official for criticising the president.
Investigation into Omar’s immigration records
Omar, a Somali-born American politician, has frequently criticised Trump and faced repeated attacks from the president over her background and political positions.
On 12 October, federal agents searched her home in Washington, DC, as part of a criminal investigation into possible fraud involving her immigration and naturalisation records.
Authorities also seized her phone and passport and issued subpoenas to some of her relatives.
The investigation centres on allegations that Omar or members of her family provided false information during their immigration process decades ago. The congresswoman has denied the allegations and described the search as politically motivated.
Obama warns against using federal agencies against opponents
Obama argued that the investigation reflected a wider pattern of the Trump administration using federal agencies to pursue individuals it regards as political opponents.
He referred to previous actions involving the New York attorney-general and a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director, saying similar cases had stalled or been dismissed because they lacked a legal basis.
The former president warned that targeting political opponents could establish a “dangerous precedent” that future administrations might also exploit.
He urged Americans to be concerned regardless of their political views on Omar, arguing that the investigation could distract her from her legislative responsibilities and force her to incur legal expenses over allegations he considers baseless.
Obama added that the use of government authority to intimidate political critics should concern Americans across party lines.