Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is facing public scrutiny after a recent interview in which she compared scenes from the United States to her experiences growing up under a dictatorship in Somalia.

Speaking to Democracy Now, Rep. Omar commented on a 2020 moment when U.S. troops were deployed in response to civil unrest in Los Angeles, coinciding with a military parade marking 250 years of the U.S. Army.

“Can you imagine that image that is going to be coming out of our country? I mean, I grew up in a dictatorship, and I don’t even remember ever witnessing anything like that,” Omar said. “To have a democracy… turned into one of the worst countries, where the military are in our streets without regard for people’s constitutional rights… is really shocking.”

She continued by urging Americans to reflect on whether current events reflect the ideals and principles the country was founded upon, adding that “protest, dissent, is constitutionally protected — that is everybody’s First Amendment right in this country.”

Her remarks sparked widespread discussion on social media, with a range of responses. Some users criticized the congresswoman’s tone and message, expressing disagreement with her comparison. Others defended her right to express concern, highlighting freedom of speech as a core American value.

The controversy comes at a time of ongoing national dialogue about the role of protest, civil liberties, and the presence of military or federal forces during periods of unrest.

As of now, Rep. Omar has not responded further to the online backlash, nor has she made any additional public statements regarding the comments.