Trump says lawmakers Omar, Tlaib should be institutionalized, deported

• Trump calls for deportation of Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, labeling them “mentally unstable”
• Remarks follow heated exchange during State of the Union, drawing criticism from lawmakers and rights groups.

US President Donald Trump launched a sharp verbal attack Wednesday against Muslim Congresswomen Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, calling for them to be sent to “mental institutions” and deported to their countries of origin.

The escalation followed a loud confrontation during Tuesday’s State of the Union address, when the lawmakers interrupted Trump while he praised his administration’s strict immigration policies, shouting accusations of “lying” and responsibility for “killing Americans.”

Trump used his Truth Social account to describe Tlaib, an American of Palestinian descent, and Omar, an American of Somali descent, as “deranged and mentally unstable,” claiming their eyes appeared “bulging and bloodshot like lunatics.”

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He added: “When people behave this way, and we know they are corrupt politicians causing serious harm to our country, they should be sent back where they came from immediately,” suggesting actor Robert De Niro should be deported as well.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the comments as “shameful” and xenophobic. Tlaib responded on X, calling Trump’s behavior a “meltdown.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) described the attack as racist and bigoted, noting it targeted two lawmakers criticizing law enforcement policies linked to deaths in Minnesota earlier this year.

While the White House frames these actions as enhancing domestic security, rights groups warn Trump is fostering fear and using isolated incidents to justify targeting immigrants, with reports noting eight deaths in immigration detention centers since the start of the year.