Obama backs Ilhan Omar amid probe, accuses Trump admin of 'appalling' targeting in lengthy statement

What happened: Barack Obama posted on X defending Rep. Ilhan Omar amid a criminal investigation into her immigration status, accusing the Trump Why it matters: Obama said the effort to strip Omar of citizenship and deport her could set a dangerous precedent, arguing the government cannot selectively target individuals for their political beliefs or speech. Key numbers: Obama said Omar arrived in the U.S. with her father at age 12 and automatically became a citizen at 17 when her father was naturalized; he said investigators pursue an unsubstantiated theory that she was 18 at the time.

Barack Obama posted on X defending Rep. Ilhan Omar amid a criminal investigation into her immigration status, accusing the Trump

Obama said the effort to strip Omar of citizenship and deport her could set a dangerous precedent, arguing the government cannot selectively target individuals for their political beliefs or speech. Key numbers: Obama said Omar arrived in the U.S. with her father at age 12 and automatically became a citizen at 17 when her father was naturalized; he said investigators pursue an unsubstantiated theory that she was 18 at the time.