CNN anchor Pamela Brown pushed back against Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar during an interview on Monday, after Omar described the supporters of Republican Congressman Brandon Gill as 'xenophobic and racist.' The exchange occurred on The Situation Room, where Brown co-anchors alongside Wolf Blitzer.
Omar, a Minnesota Democrat and member of the progressive 'Squad,' made the remarks while responding to a February social media post from Gill that called for her deportation. Gill had accused Omar of breaking the law by conducting seminars for Somalians living illegally in the US, a claim Omar denied.
When Brown sought clarification, asking, 'You're not calling all of Gill's base xenophobic and racist, right?' Omar refused to back down. She argued that Gill was 'feeding to something' and that his petition and fundraising efforts targeted a base that 'feeds off of that.'
Blitzer remained silent during the exchange, which ended when he cut to a commercial break. Brown appeared unsettled by Omar's comments, which came amid heightened political tensions and Democratic infighting.
Omar, who became a US citizen in 2000 after fleeing Somalia, has faced repeated attacks from conservatives. The interview highlighted ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party as Republicans control the presidency, House, and Senate.
