In a startling incident at a district town hall on Tuesday, Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota faced an unexpected and concerning confrontation. While addressing her constituents, a man abruptly approached the podium where Omar stood and sprayed her with an unidentified substance.

The interruption occurred as Omar was passionately advocating for the resignation or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, criticizing her response to recent shootings in Minneapolis. The man, who had been seated among the audience, suddenly rose and began shouting before carrying out the alarming act.

Updated: Jan 27, 2026 / 09:03 PM EST

A man approached Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) during a town hall in her district on Tuesday and sprayed her with an unknown substance.

The man stood and began yelling at Omar, who was at the podium and calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment over her handling of the Minneapolis shootings. He apparently sprayed something at the congresswoman.

In the video of the event, which was streamed live, Omar is heard saying she doesn’t know what was sprayed. She asked for a napkin.

“Here’s the reality that people like this ugly man don’t understand: We are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us,” Omar said after the incident.

Fellow U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) denounced the assault on Omar.

“I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today” Mace said via the social platform X. “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”

The attack came days after a man was arrested in Utah for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to deport him.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.