Omar: Democrats attending Trump’s inauguration ‘sends the wrong message’

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) argued that Democrats who attended President Trump’s Inauguration on Monday were sending the "wrong message."

Omar joined CNN’s “The Source” on Thursday evening and was asked by host Kaitlan Collins about the number of Democrats who attended Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, instead of skipping the event.

“I think there were some exceptions of some of the folks that could have been there for that sort of purpose, but to have the mass number of people that showed up that really didn’t have a reason to be there, to me, it sent the wrong message,” Omar send.

Collins questioned what that message was.

Omar, a progressive Democrat, responded that Trump is a threat to democracy. The president, through his various executive orders in the first week back in office, has demonstrated he will dismantle democracy, she added.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is seen during a press conference on Thursday, May 16, 2024 to discuss the Congressional Progressive Caucus proposition agenda for 2025. (Greg Nash)

The message Democrats who attended the inauguration sent was that they were going to “sit here and congratulate him and pat him on the back,” the Minnesota Democrat said.

“That’s not a good message,” she said.

Collins asked if she included former President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in that group of Democrats.

“I just do not understand why they would attend,” Omar replied.

Some Democrats questioned whether President Biden extended too much kindness to Trump during the administration transition.

He reportedly said “Welcome home!” when the Trumps arrived at the White House. Biden also left a “respectful” letter in the Resolute Desk, following tradition.

Collins asked Omar about the pleasantries between the two presidents, who, on the campaign trail in the past, have not exchanged kind words.

“President Biden has always been a real American, a patriot, and I think the fact that he did not have a peaceful transition and it was challenging for him, [he] wanted to show the American people how to do it and remind them,” Omar said.

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