US President Donald Trump has demanded the immediate resignation of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, alleging she used a false name to be sworn into Congress and committed fraud over her identity and a previous marriage. Omar's office has strongly denied the claims, calling them false and politically motivated.

What Trump Alleged

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that Omar's actual name was Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, rather than Ilhan Abdullahi Omar — the name under which she was elected to the House of Representatives. 'Therefore, because she used a fake name to be sworn in, I assume she must immediately resign from Congress,' Trump wrote.

He also called on House Speaker Mike Johnson — whom he addressed as 'James Michael Johnson' — to act, adding: 'Please inform the Speaker of the House of Representatives, James Michael Johnson, that the Dumocrat Party has just conceded her seat.'

Trump repeated the allegation at a campaign rally in Iowa on Thursday, telling supporters, 'She used a fake name to be sworn in. I assume she must immediately have to resign from Congress,' before declaring: 'The Republicans have just picked up a seat in the House.'

The Federal Court Filing at the Centre of the Controversy

The controversy intensified after a federal court filing submitted on Wednesday by the office of US Attorney Jeanine Pirro identified the congresswoman as 'Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.' According to Newsweek, the filing concerned efforts to keep materials sealed in connection with a federal search warrant involving Omar's Washington residence. The filing did not itself allege wrongdoing by Omar.

Omar's Denial and Her Spokesperson's Response

Omar's spokesperson rejected the accusations outright, telling Fox News Digital: 'This is completely false. Ilhan Omar is her real name.' The spokesperson also described the allegations as a 'desperate smear' and criticised media organisations for continuing to 'give this lie oxygen.'

During an interview on Wednesday with MSNBC's Chris Hayes, Omar rejected the allegations personally. Asked whether she was related to her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi — whom critics have long and repeatedly alleged is her biological brother — she replied: 'Not to my knowledge.'

Unverified Claims and Due Process

Conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly added another layer to the controversy on Friday, claiming that federal investigators reportedly possessed DNA evidence concerning Omar's former marriage. 'The Justice Department apparently has DNA evidence that proves she married her brother to get him a Green Card,' O'Reilly wrote. However, his claim was not accompanied by any publicly presented DNA findings, and O'Reilly himself urged restraint, writing: 'We need to let this play out and see where the facts lead. I still believe in due process.'

Background and Constitutional Context

Omar, who was born in Somalia, became an American citizen at 17 when her father was naturalised in 2000, according to reports. She is among the most prominent progressive Democrats in Congress and has frequently clashed with Trump over immigration, race, and American politics.

Under the US Constitution, removing a sitting House member requires a two-thirds vote of the chamber — a threshold that makes unilateral removal effectively impossible. The allegations against Omar have circulated for years and have previously been investigated without resulting in any criminal charges. How this episode unfolds will likely depend on whether federal investigators make any formal findings public.