Rep. Ilhan Omar recently slammed the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claiming the country faces a “constitutional crisis.” However, Omar has simultaneously faced scrutiny over her congressional spending alongside accusations of fraud.
Omar recently sat down with Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” where she said, “We are witnessing a constitutional crisis. We are seeing an executive branch that has decided that they are no longer going to abide by the Constitution in honoring Congress’ role in the creation of the agencies in their role in deciding where money is allocated, and so the only recourse we have since our congressional leadership, the speaker will not stop the executive is through the judiciary.”
The “Squad” member continued, “And this is you know, when you think about the checks and balances that we have, the courts are the only recourse we have at the moment, and we have seen and when we talk about the illegality of what the executive is doing, we have seen every single executive order that has been challenged in the courts was found to be illegal.”
However, Omar praised the courts which have ruled against some of Trump’s plans. “And that, I think, should give faith to the American people, that our courts are working as they should. The checks and balances are working. What is not working is the way that the executive is behaving and the congressional leadership that is failing the American people,” she said.
Amid her criticism of Trump’s cost-cutting efforts, Omar has faced recent scrutiny of her own spending. Conservative commentator Paul A. Szypula recently took to X, questioning why Omar took a first-class trip to Cuba instead of flying economy, which would be more efficient for the U.S. taxpayer.
“Hey @DOGE, why is Rep.\ @Ilhan Omar flying business/first class to Cuba instead of flying coach? Ilhan spent about $1,000 on the airfare when she could’ve easily spent half that. Imagine the cost savings if all the members of Congress were only allowed to fly coach,” Szypula wrote on X.
He followed up in another comment, “Does Ilhan similarly fly business/first class when a sponsor isn’t footing the bill? And what does Ilhan give the sponsor back in return when she is gifted travel? Whoever pays for it, it’s inappropriate for lawmakers to accept lavish gifts. Fly coach or don’t fly.” The post prompted intense discourse from various other users.
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Watch Omar below:
The news sparked commentary from conservatives, questioning why a United States congresswoman would be visiting foreign nations when they serve American constituents. “And on WHAT BUSINESS do members of CONGRESS need to fly to foreign countries AT ALL unless proxy for the State Department @SecRubio?? Stop them from wasting our money and ask them to actually do the jobs we elected them to do,” one person asked.
Another said, “What is a Minnesota Congresswoman doing in Cuba? I need her itinerary, agenda, meeting notes and follow up data. Foreign relations are the responsibility of @SecRubio not a Somali American anti-American politician. She has stated her allegiance and it’s to Somalia, not America and not Minnesotans.”