Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) recently found herself at the center of a heated controversy following her decision to delete a tweet commemorating Juneteenth. Her original post celebrated the end of slavery in the United States, stating, "160 years ago on June 19, 1865, slavery ended in this country. Today, we celebrate Black freedom, resilience, and achievement, and continue the work to root out systematic racism from our policies and institutions." The deletion occurred after conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman criticized Omar for not addressing slavery that persists in her birth country, Somalia. Eagleman's response rapidly spread online, sparking a broader conversation about Omar's stance on human rights both domestically and internationally.
The incident took place on June 19, 2025, and quickly escalated into a larger debate about the responsibilities of public figures to address injustices both at home and abroad. While Omar's second Juneteenth post, which avoided direct references to slavery, remains online, the deletion of the initial tweet has not gone unnoticed. The criticism comes on the heels of Omar's contentious remarks in a recent interview, where she described the U.S. as "turning into one of the worst countries on earth."
The Global Slavery Index from Walk Free estimates around 99,000 people in Somalia are living in conditions of modern-day slavery. The index especially highlights the vulnerability of children, internally displaced persons, minority groups, and residents in areas under the control of the terrorist group al-Shabaab. A 2024 State Department report details the exploitation of Somali children in various sectors, including forced begging and sexual exploitation. Despite international pressure, enforcement against these practices remains weak, particularly in regions dominated by al-Shabaab.
Omar, who fled Somalia as a child and became one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, has established her political identity around tackling racial and social justice issues in the U.S. Her critics argue that she often overlooks serious human rights violations in other parts of the world. So far, Omar has not publicly addressed the reason behind the deletion of her original Juneteenth tweet or whether the criticism concerning Somalia's slavery practices influenced her decision.
