Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Lauren Boebert Apologizes for Ilhan Omar 'Backpack' Joke and QAnon Rep Is Not OK With It

Lauren Boebert Apologizes for Ilhan Omar 'Backpack' Joke and QAnon Rep Is Not OK With It
OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images // Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images // Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Make us preferred on Google

A House GOP member has fired yet another salvo in its onslaught of reprehensible rhetoric against Democratic members. This time, the remark came from far-right Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who likened Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota—one of the first Muslim women ever elected to Congress—to a suicide bomber.

Boebert made the remark in comments to constituents, once again referring to Omar as a member of the "Jihad Squad" just days after berating her on the House floor.


Watch below.

Boebert said:

"I was getting into an elevator with one of my staffers and he and I were leaving the Capitol, we're going back to my office and we get in the elevator and I see a Capitol Police officer running hurriedly to the elevator. I see fret all over his face. And he's reaching. The door is shutting. I can't open it. What's happening? I look to my left and there she is, Ilhan Omar, and I said, 'Well she doesn't have a backpack, we should be fine.'"

She continued to brag about belittling Omar while the two were supposedly trapped in an elevator:

"So we only had one floor to go and I say, do I say it or do I not? And I look over and I say, 'Look, the jihad squad decided to show up for work today.' Don't worry, it's just her staffers on Twitter that talk for her. She's not tough in person."

Americans across the country decried Boebert's comments, including Omar herself, who said the exchange in the elevator never happened and called on Congressional leadership to reprimand Boebert.


Just earlier this month, Congress voted to strip GOP Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona of his committee assignments for posting an edited cartoon of him killing Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Earlier this year, House members did the same for far-right Congresswoman and prominent conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, after Facebook interactions before her election exposed her support for the execution of her colleagues.

Boebert soon issued a widely-panned public apology—not to Omar, but to those she offended—for the remarks.

While most of her critics were Democrats, Congresswoman Greene also spoke against the apology, saying it wasn't necessary in the first place.

In a lengthy follow-up thread, Greene then proceeded to call Omar a terrorist sympathizer and repeated the baseless claim that she married her brother.

Greene's vicarious double-down on Boebert's remarks generated further outrage.





Some deemed Greene's tweet to be yet another violation of Twitter's terms of service, and called on her to be barred from the site.




In a joint statement, House Democratic leadership condemned Boebert's remarks and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's "repeated failure to condemn inflammatory and bigoted rhetoric." It's unclear if further action will be taken.

More from People/lauren-boebert

Oprah Winfrey; Whitney Houston
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images; Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey Sparks Debate After Sharing Untold Story About Whitney Houston Falling Off Stage On Her Show

Oprah Winfrey recently spoke at Cannes Lions about her success as a TV show host and personality, while focusing on the dedication and loyalty of her studio audiences over the years.

The example she used to demonstrate her audience's loyalty involved the final time Whitney Houston appeared on her show.

Keep ReadingShow less
Actors Zendaya and Tom Holland pose during a red carpet event for the film "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."
Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty Images

Tom Holland Helps Zendaya Avoid A Wardrobe Malfunction In Front Of Photographers In Viral Video—And Fans Are Swooning

Holy almost-wardrobe malfunction, Spider-Man!

Tom Holland and Zendaya continued proving why they're one of Hollywood's favorite on- and off-screen couples after sharing a sweet moment during a Spider-Man: Brand New Day press stop in Rome.

Keep ReadingShow less
Will Ferrell; Molly Shannon
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty Images

Will Ferrell Credits Molly Shannon With Saving 'SNL' With One Of Her Iconic Characters In Poignant Hollywood Walk Of Fame Speech

Picture this: Will Ferrell was just three episodes into his premiere on Saturday Night Live.

He join the show right after the SNL team decided to do a clean sweep and let go of its full cast, despite the previous era being one most fans deemed the funniest and most creative, with Adam Sandler, the late Chris Farley, the late Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, and Rob Schneider, aka the "Bad Boys of SNL."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ariana Grande
Christopher Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images

Ariana Grande Has Hilariously Iconic Reaction After Accidentally Sharing NSFW Photo On Instagram

At this point, most of us have had the experience at least once of letting someone look through our photos and realizing that—oops—there's some adult content in there.

Now imagine making that mistake in an Instagram photo dump. While also being one of the most famous people in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
GOP Senator Perfectly Rips Jeanine Pirro Over Her Vow To Prosecute Alleged Reflecting Pool 'Vandals' In Mic Drop Rant
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images; @kgwnews/Instagram

GOP Senator Perfectly Rips Jeanine Pirro Over Her Vow To Prosecute Alleged Reflecting Pool 'Vandals' In Mic Drop Rant

During a press gaggle on Capitol Hill, North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis took a moment to effectively ask the administration of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump, "What the f...‽."

More specifically, Senator Tillis addressed statements made on Sunday by the former Fox News host Trump appointed as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro.

Keep ReadingShow less