WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley stormed onto X on Wednesday, unleashing a blistering condemnation of President Trump and accusing him of endangering “every Somali, every woman in hijab, every Muslim, and every woman of color” after his latest jab at Rep. Ilhan Omar — a sweeping claim critics say reflects Pressley’s trademark ‘woke’ reflex more than the moment itself.
Pressley declared Trump’s remarks “vile hate speech,” insisting that his insult toward Omar now threatens an entire chain of identity groups — “every Somali,” “every woman in hijab,” “every Muslim,” “every woman of color.” It was the kind of expansive, all-encompassing framing that has turned Pressley into both a left-wing icon and a lightning rod for accusations of performative outrage.
The dust-up began when journalist Aaron Rupar circulated a clip showing Trump at the White House, railing against Somali immigration and dismissing Omar and her allies as “garbage.” Within hours, Pressley had escalated the moment into a national warning flare, suggesting the president’s barbs aimed at one lawmaker now jeopardize women and minorities across the country.
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Omar — one of Congress’s most polarizing figures — has long been a Trump target. But Pressley’s reaction on Wednesday amplified the usual uproar into a sweeping identity-politics flashpoint, with her critics accusing her of turning a political insult into a crisis for “every hijab-wearing woman in America.”
Republicans brushed off the controversy, arguing Trump was hitting a political foe, not condemning an entire ethnicity. But Pressley doubled down, claiming the president’s language fuels real-world danger and warning that his rhetoric could embolden extremists.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
For Pressley, the storyline was unmistakable: Trump insulted Ilhan Omar — and, in her telling, insulted ‘every Somali,’ ‘every woman in hijab,’ ‘every Muslim,’ and ‘every woman of color’ all at once. With the political stakes rising, Wednesday’s clash offered yet another glimpse of the all-or-nothing rhetorical battlefield Pressley thrives on.
