Ilhan Omar Deletes Old Tweet — But We Caught It

Many people believe Ilhan Omar married her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, in 2009, to help him obtain immigration benefits. In a deleted 2013 social media post, Omar referred to her father as “Nur Said.” Public records identify her father as “Nur Omar Mohamed,” while her former husband’s name is Ahmed Nur Said Elmi.

Conservatives say that the name “Nur Said” proves that Omar and Elmi have the same father, clearly making them siblings. According to Fox News, the message was published on Father’s Day in June 2013 and later deleted in September 2019. In the post, Omar wrote, “Happy Father’s Day to my aabo Nur Said, I am forever grateful to Allah for giving me the best father …”

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The reference to “Nur Said” has prompted additional questions because public records and a Congressional Black Caucus memorial identifying Omar’s late father use the name “Nur Omar Mohamed.” The deleted social media post from Omar has resurfaced as federal investigators examine questions surrounding the Minnesota Democrat’s identity, immigration history, and previous marriage. The post refers to Omar’s father by a name that differs from the one appearing in several public records.

However, Somali naming traditions commonly incorporate a person’s father’s and grandfather’s names, meaning similar names do not necessarily establish a family relationship. A statement previously attributed to Omar’s spokesperson claimed that “Nur Said” was her father’s childhood nickname. The central question is whether the name Omar used in her deleted post indicates a familial connection to her former husband, something that has not been established b

The renewed controversy comes amid a reported federal criminal investigation into possible false statements involving immigration and naturalization documents. Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence on October 12, according to Fox News, as investigators continued examining records connected to the congresswoman’s background. Omar has denied wrongdoing and characterized the investigation as politically motivated.

The resurfaced post has also drawn attention because Omar’s former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, shares part of the name mentioned in her Father’s Day message. However, similarities between names do not establish a family relationship, particularly under Somali naming traditions, which commonly incorporate the given names of a person’s father and paternal grandfather.

Omar has repeatedly rejected longstanding allegations that Elmi, whom she later divorced, is her brother. Her representatives have described those claims as unfounded conspiracy theories.

An archived copy of the Father’s Day message was previously reported by the Daily Caller in 2019. Records indicate that Omar deleted the original post on September 19 of that year.

A statement previously attributed to an Omar spokesperson offered an explanation for the different names, claiming that “Nur Said” was a childhood nickname used by her father.

The statement also reportedly explained that Omar removed the post because she and her family had received threats. Fox News noted that it had not independently verified all the naming claims.

Additional questions have emerged from federal court documents connected to the search of Omar’s residence. The documents reportedly identify the congresswoman as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a.k.a. Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.”

The filing does not explain why that alternative name appears or establish that Omar knowingly used a false identity.

When questioned by Fox News Digital, Omar disputed suggestions that the alternative name was her legal identity.

“Ilhan Abdullahi Omar, you know it,” she told the outlet. “It’s Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.”

Two individuals familiar with the federal investigation reportedly suggested that “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi” could be Omar’s legal name. Her office has rejected that characterization.

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The controversy also resurfaced during Omar’s appearance Wednesday on MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, when she was questioned about her previous marriage and whether Elmi could have been a distant relative.

“Not to my knowledge,” Omar responded when asked about a possible family relationship.

Omar and Elmi divorced in 2017. She subsequently married Ahmed Hirsi in 2018. Her marital history has been the subject of political controversy for years, although the allegations concerning her former husband’s family relationship have not been established as fact.

A former federal immigration judge told Fox News that knowingly providing false information on federal documents could potentially implicate 18 U.S.C. § 1001. However, any criminal liability would depend on the documents involved, whether a statement was materially false, and whether prosecutors could establish intent.

Omar’s representatives have maintained that she has consistently denied the allegations concerning her marriage. The Justice Department has not publicly resolved the questions raised in the report, and the existence of an investigation does not establish criminal wrongdoing. The resurfaced post adds another element to the ongoing controversy, but its significance remains disputed.