A video resurfaced recently, sparking widespread commentary, showing Representative Ilhan Omar mistakenly referring to World War II as “World War Eleven” during a news conference last year. The incident occurred while she was discussing the “Neighbors Not Enemies Act,” a bill aimed at opposing certain immigration enforcement policies.
During her remarks, Omar stated that the Alien Enemies Act had previously been used to detain and deport immigrants from Germany, Japan, and Italy during what she called “World War Eleven.” She quickly self-corrected, acknowledging her error with a laugh and stating, “Oh, two.”
The timing of the video’s renewed circulation coincides with increased scrutiny of Omar’s district due to a large-scale federal fraud investigation focusing on the Somali immigrant community. This investigation has led to numerous search warrants being executed at various locations.
The misstatement quickly drew reactions from across the political spectrum. Senator Mike Lee remarked sarcastically about the “deadly” nature of “World War Eleven,” and shared the clip alongside another video of Omar making critical comments about Trump voters.
In the earlier video, Omar expressed difficulty engaging in “intellectual debate” with those who supported Trump, suggesting a decline in the intellectual capacity of the American populace. These combined clips fueled further discussion and criticism online.
Elon Musk responded to the “World War Eleven” clip with a grimace emoji, while other online accounts seized on the moment. One popular conservative account linked the error to the misspelling seen at a Minneapolis daycare center involved in the fraud investigation.
Conservative activist Chloe Cole highlighted the gaffe, and others joked about the implications for future conflicts, suggesting Omar might miscount even larger-scale wars. The incident was framed by some as evidence of a broader lack of knowledge.
The federal investigation in Minnesota has involved raids on numerous businesses, including childcare facilities suspected of fraudulently billing for services not provided. Two of the locations raided were the Quality Learning Center and Baby Halimo Child Care, both in Minneapolis.
Omar has publicly criticized the federal investigation, expressing concern that the Trump administration’s approach was causing harm and confusion within her constituency. She emphasized a desire for collaboration to address the fraud, but also condemned what she perceived as unnecessary “terror, confusion, and chaos.”
In a previous interview, Omar stated her hope for a collaborative effort with the administration to address the fraud, while simultaneously voicing her concerns about the disruptive impact of the investigation on her constituents and the broader community.
