WASHINGTON — Asked about the vinegar attack on Ilhan Omar at a Minneapolis townhall, President Trump feigned that he hadn’t heard about it. White House observers were dubious about Trump’s answer:
> The attack had been national news since the night before.
> Trump is an inveterate television news addict.
> He contradicted his “no knowledge” response and elaborated without evidence, that he believed the attack was staged.
Omar has been a target of Trump hatred for years. He has called for her to be deported “back to Africa.” Fact: Omar is a U.S. citizen and elected from the MN-5 Congressional District. In recent weeks Trump has ramped p his attacks and tried without evidence to link Omar to a Minnesota fraud scandal. Also without evidence he has claimed she’s worth $44 million from ill-gotten gains and called for the U.S. Justice Department to investigate. Fact: Businesses partly owned by Omar’s husband, a Washington political consultant, have been valued at $30 million — far less than Trump’s concocted $44 million but also not Omar’s personal wealth. About the townhall attack on Omar in Minneapolis, Trump added without sympathy: “I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud,”
Earlier: Attacker on Omar a Trump devotee
Earlier: Omar targeted in vinegar attack at townhall