‘Squad’ Member Deletes Controversial Post After Conservative Commentator’s Brutal One-Liner
Ilhan Omar Deletes Juneteenth Post After Conservative Commentator Points Out That Slavery Still Exists in Somalia
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing renewed backlash after she deleted a Juneteenth message referencing slavery in the U.S., following public criticism drawing attention to slavery that still exists in Somalia, the country where she was born.
The controversy unfolded Thursday when “The Squad” member posted a message 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.”
That post was later deleted after conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman publicly called her out, tweeting, “Somalia still has slaves. Ilhan should go fight to free her own people.”
His response quickly gained traction online, prompting widespread discussion.
While the original message was taken down, a second Juneteenth post from Omar remains on her official social media channels.
That statement avoids direct references to slavery and instead focuses on broader themes.
“On Juneteenth, we remember that freedom is not always swift but it is always worth the fight,” she wrote. “It’s a powerful reminder of how long justice can take to reach those who deserve it most.”
“Today, we celebrate Black freedom, resilience, and achievement, and continue the work to root out systematic racism from our policies and institutions.”
Criticism over the deleted post comes on the heels of Omar’s recent controversial remarks during an interview in which she said, “We are turning into one of the worst countries on earth.”
The comment, coupled with the Juneteenth backlash, has fueled conservative criticism about her public statements on America’s values while remaining silent on human rights violations in her native country.
According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index from Walk Free, approximately 99,000 people are estimated to be living in modern-day slavery in Somalia.
The report identifies children, internally displaced persons, minority groups and those residing in territory controlled by the terrorist group al-Shabaab as especially vulnerable to trafficking and forced labor.
Some Somali families surrender custody of their children to extended relatives or clan associates, expecting them to provide care or support, according to a 2024 State Department report.
In many cases, however, these children are exploited in sectors such as domestic work, farming, herding, fishing and construction.
Others are subjected to forced begging, sexual exploitation, or required to sell and transport khat, a plant commonly used as a stimulant.
U.S. government and international reports have repeatedly flagged these issues, urging Somalia’s government to take stronger action to combat trafficking and slavery.
Despite that, enforcement remains limited, particularly in regions where al-Shabaab’s control undermines state authority, according to The Gateway Pundit.
Omar, who fled Somalia with her family as a child and later became one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, has built her political brand on addressing racial and social justice in the U.S.
Critics argue that her focus often excludes serious human rights issues abroad—including those connected to her homeland.
As of now, Omar has not addressed why she removed the original Juneteenth post or whether the criticism over Somalia’s slavery practices played a role in her decision.
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