President Donald Trump was widely criticized for saying Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) “probably had herself sprayed” after learning that a man had attacked her with an unknown substance during a town hall event in Minneapolis on Tuesday. And experts in political science believe there are a few takeaways from this type of rhetoric.
Omar had delivered a speech at the event slamming Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem days after federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti, and weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Renee Good.
The Minnesota Democrat was calling for the abolishment of ICE and the resignation or impeachment of Noem when a man charged toward her and sprayed her with a syringe full of unknown liquid.
The man, who has since been identified as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, was immediately tackled. He was arrested and booked at the county jail on a preliminary third-degree assault charge, a spokesperson told The Associated Press. An AP journalist who was at the town hall said there was a strong, vinegar-like smell after the man sprayed the liquid.
Omar returned to the podium to continue her speech after the incident, saying, “We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient at the face of whatever they might throw at us.”
