Rep. Ilhan Omar had little to say Thursday when confronted by a Fox News producer about the brutal antisemitic shooting that left two Israeli embassy staffers dead in Washington, D.C. Instead of addressing the tragedy, Omar made a beeline for a waiting car.
Fox News producer Dan Scully asked the Minnesota Democrat for her reaction to the horrific event, but she brushed him off, saying, “I’m gonna go for now,” before fleeing to her vehicle without another word.
Just hours earlier, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, reportedly a pro-Palestinian activist, opened fire on a group leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Two Israeli nationals, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were killed. Witnesses say Rodriguez yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack, a detail that points to a deliberate, targeted act of antisemitic violence.
The silence from Omar—who has a well-documented history of anti-Israel rhetoric—was deafening. Her refusal to immediately condemn the attack stood in stark contrast to the chorus of bipartisan outrage that followed. Attorney General Pam Bondi promised Rodriguez would be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” and President Donald Trump slammed the killings as a result of growing antisemitic radicalism.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Later in the day, perhaps realizing the optics of her evasive exit, Omar issued a lukewarm post on X saying she was “appalled” by the shooting and offering “thoughts and prayers” to the families. But for many, her delayed response rang hollow—especially given her long-standing hostility toward Israel and its allies.
Omar’s controversial record includes accusing the U.S. of supporting “crimes against humanity” in Gaza and drawing harsh criticism from members of both parties for remarks seen as antisemitic. In 2021, the House even debated censuring her after a string of inflammatory comments equating democratic nations with terrorist groups.
Rodriguez’s attack is currently being investigated by both the D.C. Metro Police Department and federal authorities. The Department of Justice has confirmed Rodriguez is in custody and that he will face full prosecution.
The murder has sparked outrage far beyond Capitol Hill. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called it a “despicable antisemitic terror attack,” revealing that one of the victims, Yaron Lischinsky, had planned to propose to Milgrim and had already picked out a ring.
Jewish groups across the country have echoed the call for justice, with the Jewish Federations of North America pledging to assist affected families and work closely with security partners to monitor potential threats.
Despite this, Omar’s awkward attempt to avoid comment underscores a larger issue plaguing the left: the increasing influence of radical, anti-Israel activists in their ranks and the party’s growing unwillingness to clearly stand with America’s Jewish community.
While lawmakers across the aisle expressed horror and called for unity, one of the most vocal critics of Israel couldn’t spare a few moments to condemn cold-blooded murder—at least not until she was publicly shamed into it.
For a congresswoman who has never hesitated to weigh in on global events when it suits her narrative, the silence in this moment was deafening. And for those who remember her history of inflammatory rhetoric, it was all too familiar.
