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Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) strongly criticized Democrats who attended President Trump’s inauguration on Monday, arguing that their presence sent the “wrong message.” Speaking on CNN’s “The Source” with Kaitlan Collins, Omar expressed disappointment over the significant number of Democrats who attended, saying it undermined the party’s stance against Trump’s actions and rhetoric.
“I think there were some exceptions for people who might have had a specific reason to be there,” Omar said. “But for the mass number of people who showed up without a clear purpose, it sent the wrong message.”
Collins pressed Omar to clarify what message she believed was being sent. Omar, a progressive Democrat, responded that Trump represents a direct threat to democracy and that his executive orders in his first week back in office highlight his intentions to dismantle democratic principles.
“The message Democrats who attended the inauguration sent was that they were willing to sit there, congratulate him, and pat him on the back,” Omar said. “That’s not a good message.”
Collins asked if her critique included high-profile Democrats such as former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both of whom attended the ceremony. Omar responded firmly, “I just do not understand why they would attend.”
The Minnesota congresswoman emphasized that by attending, Democrats appeared to legitimize Trump’s presidency and failed to take a stronger stand against his policies and behavior. Omar argued that the party must send a clear message that Trump’s actions are unacceptable, rather than appearing to celebrate his return to office.
The conversation also touched on President Biden’s role during the transition. Collins asked Omar about Biden’s reported pleasantries with Trump, including greeting him with “Welcome home!” upon his arrival at the White House and leaving a “respectful” letter on the Resolute Desk in accordance with tradition.
Omar defended Biden’s actions, explaining that they demonstrated his commitment to a peaceful transfer of power despite the challenges. “President Biden has always been a real American and a patriot,” Omar said.
“He faced a difficult and unprecedented transition, but he wanted to show the American people how to handle it with dignity and remind them of the importance of democratic principles.”
However, some Democrats have questioned whether Biden extended too much goodwill to Trump during the transition, especially given their contentious relationship on the campaign trail. Omar acknowledged that while Biden’s actions were well-intentioned, the broader party must be cautious not to normalize Trump’s presidency or downplay the threats he poses to democracy.
Omar concluded by calling on Democrats to take responsibility for their past missteps in opposing Trump. “We need to own the ways in which we’ve failed to communicate effectively about the threat Trump poses,” she said. “This is not just about one inauguration—it’s about how we fight for the future of democracy.”
