Omar asks Twitter what it's doing in response to Trump spreading 'lies that put my life at risk'

By Zack Budryk - 09/18/19 12:10 PM EDT
 
Omar asks Twitter what it's doing in response to Trump spreading 'lies that put my life at risk'
© Greg Nash

Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarDemocrats reject hardball tactics against Senate parliamentarian  The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Pfizer deems COVID vaccine 'safe' for children 5+ Omar urges Biden, Schumer to disregard parliamentarian on immigration MORE (D-Minn.) asked Wednesday what Twitter would do about “lies that put my life at risk” after President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump takes shot at new GOP candidate in Ohio over Cleveland nickname GOP political operatives indicted over illegal campaign contribution from Russian national in 2016 On The Money — Dems dare GOP to vote for shutdown, default MORE promoted a false claim that a video of her and Rep. Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyHaitians stuck in Texas extend Biden's immigration woes Advocates 'in utter disbelief' after Biden resumes Haitian repatriations Democratic bill would force Fed to defund fossil fuels MORE (D-Mass.) dancing was filmed on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

“This is from a CBC event we hosted this weekend to celebrate black women in Congress. The President of the United States is continuing to spread lies that put my life at risk. What is Twitter doing to combat this misinformation?” Omar tweeted after Trump quote-tweeted a tweet from user Terrence K. Williams falsely claiming the Sept. 13 video was taken on Sept. 11.

The clip of the two dancing to Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” initially went viral on Saturday after it was first tweeted, with the rapper and singer, who, like Omar, is from Minneapolis, retweeting it.

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After the quote-tweet from the president, which Williams also retweeted, Williams apparently deleted the original. The Hill has reached out to Williams for comment. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed to The Hill that the tweet was not deleted as a result of any action by the company.

Trump previously retweeted Williams when he suggested the Clintons had ordered the killing of financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Omar also retweeted several other accounts noting the lie, including CNN’s Jake TapperJacob (Jake) Paul TapperYarmuth and Clyburn suggest .5T package may be slimmed Fauci on FDA advisers' booster recommendations: 'I don't think they made a mistake' Mississippi governor: Biden vaccine mandates an 'attack' on 'hard-working Americans' MORE, Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersPelosi says House members would not vote on spending bill topline higher than Senate's Groups push lawmakers to use defense bill to end support for Saudis in Yemen civil war Congress must address the looming debt crisis MORE (I-Vt.) and Sirius XM host Zerlina Maxwell.

Death threats against Omar previously spiked after Trump tweeted a video splicing images of the 9/11 attacks with comments Omar made saying that in the wake of the attacks, all Muslims were considered suspect because “some people did something,” which prompted outrage on the right and accusations of trivializing the terrorist attacks.

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Omar later doubled down on calls for Twitter to take action against the president's account, tweeting: "Enough! Twitter needs to hold this #Lyingpresident accountable."

Tags Twitter Ayanna Pressley Bernie Sanders Donald Trump Jake Tapper Ilhan Omar death threats Trump tweets