Joe Battenfeld: President Trump's risky gambit against Omar

Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald on Oct 14, 2026

Published in Op Eds

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An embattled President Donald Trump is undertaking a risky gambit raiding the home of controversial “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar just seven weeks before the election.

If the court ordered warrant by Homeland Security turns up nothing and Omar is cleared, it could seriously backfire on Trump and the GOP, which has been obsessed by the far left Muslim Minnesota Democrat.

The liberal media is already raising questions about Trump and the DOJ’s political motivations in launching the early morning raid on Omar’s DC residence on Monday.

But if the feds do file charges and find Omar is in the country illegally or filed false immigration paperwork it would be a big blow to Democrats and the progressive movement.

“I will not be silenced,” a defiant Omar said in a social media post. “Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement…This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation.”

The operation sent political ripples even to Massachusetts, where a close ally of Omar’s, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, is also a leading progressive Squad member and has faced scrutiny for her rapid ascension to multimillionaire.

“This is a gross abuse of power & the latest in a decade-long, racist smear campaign against a duly elected Black congresswoman,” Pressley said in a social media post of the Omar investigation. “Trump is a coward who is weaponizing his DOJ to fuel hate and intimidate his opponents with baseless attacks like these….We stand with you, Ilhan Omar.”

Supporters of Trump pointed out that the search warrant against Omar is not “baseless” because a judge signed it, indicating some probable cause. There is a possibility Omar could be in serious legal jeopardy.

An arrogant Omar until now has failed to address her immigration and tax status. She exudes an ‘How dare you’ vibe.

The feds nicknamed the operation “World War Eleven” — a reference to Omar’s gaffe calling World War II “World War Eleven” in a press conference. But it was also a reference to the uproar the search warrant is generating, according to a Washington Post report.

The question is will Trump now turn up the heat on Omar? Will there be strategic leaks in the investigation. Will Omar’s brother talk? Or will Omar come up with conclusive evidence that she has done nothing wrong?

Will leading Democrats like Gov. Maura Healey and Sen. Ed Markey back Omar or will they distance themselves as the election gets closer?

Political observers said it was “very significant” the raid was conducted by Homeland Security and Immigration because it means the warrant isn’t related to corruption.

“They’re specifically looking for evidence that she committed immigration fraud so they can denaturalize her and deport her,” Communications Strategist Dante Atkins said.