The House of Representatives narrowly rejected a resolution to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) over comments she made regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his assassination. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), failed in a 214–213 vote. Notably, four Republicans broke ranks and joined Democrats to oppose the measure, effectively blocking it from advancing to a full House vote.

The controversy began after Omar gave an interview to the far-left media outlet Zeteo, where she criticized Kirk’s legacy and the Republican response to his death. She highlighted Kirk’s past remarks about slavery, including his opposition to Juneteenth, and argued that his history of inflammatory rhetoric should not be ignored simply because he was murdered. Her comments triggered outrage from conservatives.

Rep. Mace responded harshly, accusing Omar of “celebrating murder” and making inflammatory remarks suggesting she “go back to Somalia.” Mace pushed for the resolution as a “privileged” motion, forcing House leaders to consider it quickly. She continued her attacks on social media and in interviews, claiming Omar mocked a man who left behind a wife and children.

However, some Republicans rejected the resolution on free speech grounds. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) called Omar’s comments “vile,” but argued that even hateful speech is protected by the First Amendment. He pointed out that Omar’s remarks were not made in the House and did not break any House rules, cautioning against punishing speech outside the chamber.

In response to the backlash, Omar posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing sorrow for Kirk’s family and denying that she condoned violence. She accused right-wing media of misrepresenting her comments for political gain. Omar reiterated her condemnation of the assassination, calling for empathy, compassion, and a rejection of political violence.