Reschenthaler Statement on Removing Ilhan Omar from House Foreign Affairs Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) issued the following statement after voting in support of H. Res. 76, which would remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee: 

“The House Foreign Affairs Committee is entrusted with protecting our nation from foreign threats and supporting our allies and partners like Israel. Clearly, there is no place on the committee for members who embrace disgusting, antisemitic, and anti-American comments and ideology. Removing Rep. Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee is not about partisan politics – it is a necessary action to protect our national security.” 

Omar has a long history of making antisemitic and anti-American statements: 

• Omar accused Israel of “terrorism,” “war crimes,” and “hypnotizing the world.” 

• Omar compared the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban which were responsible for “unthinkable atrocities” and “crimes against humanity.” 

• Omar suggested American officials who support Israel were being paid to do so: “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby.” 

• Omar used an antisemitic trope stating that pro-Israeli activists and politicians were “pushing for allegiance” to Israel. 

• Omar downplayed the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a time “some people did something.” 

• Omar called for the “dismantling” of the American “economy and political systems.” 

• Omar laughed as a colleague discussed American casualties during the Iraq War. 

On Wednesday, Reschenthaler spoke on the House floor in support of the resolution removing Rep. Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Watch his remarks on the House floor here.