The House of Representatives on Wednesday narrowly defeated a resolution seeking to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., over recent remarks about Charlie Kirk.
The motion failed 214–213, preventing the measure from reaching a full House vote. Four Republicans — Reps. Mike Flood of Nebraska, Tom McClintock of California, Jeff Hurd of Colorado, and Cory Mills of Florida — joined Democrats in supporting the move.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced the resolution Tuesday as a “privileged” measure, requiring House leaders to act within two legislative days.
Mace introduced the resolution in response to Omar’s remarks following Kirk’s assassination, which sparked strong backlash from conservatives over an interview with the far-left outlet Zeteo, where she criticized Kirk’s past commentary as well as GOP reactions to his killing.
She told the outlet, days after Kirk’s assassination, that he had previously “downplayed slavery and what black people have gone through in this country by saying Juneteenth shouldn’t exist.”
“There are a lot of people out there talking about him just wanting to have a civil debate,” the “Squad” member said. “There is nothing more effed up than to completely pretend that his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so.”
Kirk’s technique, practiced on every college campus he visited, was literally to engage audience members who disagreed with his points of view.
In a statement to Explain America’s Carmine Sabia, Mace ripped Omar over her remarks. “If you’re Somalia first, you’re not America first, and a one-way ticket to Somalia is the nicest thing we could do,” she said.
Earlier, in a response to Omar, Mace posted on the X platform: “If you celebrate murder, maybe Somalia can take you back.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Mace said Omar mocked the assassination of Kirk, who was a husband and father of two.
“Now she’s lashing out because we called her out. What’s not ‘well’ is celebrating political violence,” Mace said. “What’s not ‘smart’ is defending it. Omar should be ashamed of herself. Omar can throw insults all day, but it won’t save her from accountability. She crossed the line, and we’re not letting her get away with it. Go back to Somalia.”
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., later explained his vote against the measure in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying his ‘no’ vote was in support of the First Amendment’s free speech clause.
“Ilhan Omar’s comments regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk are vile and contemptible. They deserve the harshest criticism of every man and woman of goodwill. But this disgusting and hateful speech is still speech and is protected by our First Amendment,” McClintock said.
“Censure is formal punishment by the House, and we have already gone too far down this road. Omar’s comments were not made in the House, and even if they were, they broke no House rules,” he added. “A free society depends on tolerating ALL speech — even hateful speech — confident that the best way to sort good from evil is to put the two side by side and trust the people to know the difference.”
Amid backlash over her interview, Omar later posted on X, “While I disagreed with Charlie Kirk vehemently about his rhetoric, my heart breaks for his wife and children.”
“I don’t wish violence on anyone. My faith teaches me the power of peace, empathy, and compassion.”
She then turned to blame President Trump, which is a typical tactic by Democrats.
“Right-wing accounts trying to spin a false story when I condemned his murder multiple times is fitting for their agenda to villainize the left to hide from the fact that Donald Trump gins up hate on a daily basis,” she falsely claimed.