Omar blasts Trump’s comment about accepting foreign campaign dirt as ‘un-American’

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said late Saturday that President Trump’s suggestion that he might accept damaging information on a political opponent from a foreign power was “one of the most un-American” things a person could say. 

The first-year lawmaker made the comments during an interview on CNN’s “The Van Jones Show.” She said that Trump’s recent comments about political dirt are another example of how seriously Democrats must take him. 

{mosads}”He’s so bold in the most lawlessness thoughts that go through his head,” Omar, who has called for Trump’s impeachment, said. “I think for so long, we’ve just said, that’s kind of what Trump does. It’s time to take him serious and it’s time for us to make this a constitutional matter and protect our nation.”

Trump said in the ABC interview last week that he’d be open to listening to a foreign government that had damaging information on a political opponent. Asked whether he would call the FBI or listen if Russia, China or another foreign government reached out, Trump said he might do both.

“I think you might want to listen. There’s nothing wrong with listening,” he said. “It’s not an interference. They have information. I think I’d take it. If I thought there was something wrong, I’d go maybe to the FBI.”

Trump later added that FBI Director Christopher Wray was “wrong” when he said that campaigns should reach out to the bureau if they are contacted by a foreign entity. 

The remarks prompted widespread backlash, with GOP and Democratic lawmakers voicing opposition to accepting information from a foreign power. 

Trump addressed the controversy on Friday, saying in an interview on “Fox & Friends” that he would look at information from a foreign government to  “know if it’s bad.”

“If I thought anything was incorrect or badly stated I’d report to the FBI or law enforcement, absolutely,” he said. “Of course you give it to the FBI or report it to the attorney general.” 

Omar on CNN compared Trump’s new remarks to “when your child is in trouble.” 

“It reminded of when your child is in trouble,” she said. “And they’re trying to get out of that trouble, and then then get themselves in more trouble.”