61% of Voters Reject Rep. Ilhan Omar's Anti-American Rhetoric, Half Support Censure

Some Republicans in Congress want to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar for comments comparing the United States to terrorist groups, and most voters reject the Minnesota Democrat’s rhetoric.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters disagree with Omar’s remarks comparing the United States to Hamas and the Taliban, saying America has committed “crimes against humanity” and “unthinkable atrocities.” Twenty-four percent (24%) of voters agree with Omar’s comparison and 15% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Omar’s comments last week prompted harsh criticism, with 12 Jewish Democrats in the House condemning her remarks and a group of congressional Republicans introducing a censure resolution against Omar and three other Democratic members of the so-called “Squad.”

Fifty percent (50%) of voters say they would support censuring Omar for her comments, while 35% would not support censure and 15% are not sure.

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The survey of 900 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on June 14-15, 2021 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Only 34% of voters have a favorable impression of Omar, including 11% who have a Very Favorable view of the second-term Democrat. Fifty percent (50%) of voters have an unfavorable view of Omar, including 38% who have a Very Unfavorable impression of her.

Eighty percent (80%) of Republicans, 41% of Democrats and 57% of voters not affiliated with either major party disagree with Omar’s comments comparing the U.S. to Hamas and the Taliban. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Democrats, 12% of Republicans and 23% of unaffiliated voters agree with Omar that America has committed “crimes against humanity” and “unthinkable atrocities.”

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of GOP voters would support censuring Omar for her comments, as would 35% of Democrats and 50% of unaffiliated voters. Forty-six percent (46%) of Democratic voters oppose censuring Omar, as do 26% of Republicans and 31% of unaffiliated voters.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of voters who disagree with Omar’s comments would support censuring her. However, even among voters who oppose censuring Omar, only 39% agree with her comparison of the United States to Hamas and the Taliban.

Younger voters are far more likely than older voters to agree with Omar’s remarks comparing the United States to Hamas and the Taliban. Forty-one percent (41%) of voters under 40 agree with Omar’s comments, compared to just 18% of voters 40-64 and 13% of voters 65 and older.

Black voters (52%) are more likely than whites (27%) or other minorities (43%) to have a favorable view of Omar. Black voters (42%) are also more likely than whites (20%) or other minorities (29%) to agree with Omar’s comments comparing the United States to Hamas and the Taliban.

A majority (53%) of white voters would support censuring Omar, as would 41% of black voters and 45% of other minorities.

President Joe Biden’s strongest supporters have the most favorable opinion of Omar. Among voters who Strongly Approve of Biden’s job performance as president, 66% have a favorable impression of Omar and 39% agree with her comments comparing the United States to Hamas and the Taliban. By contrast, among voters who Strongly Disapprove of Biden’s performance, 92% have an unfavorable impression of Omar and 91% disagree with her comments accusing America of “crimes against humanity.”

Most voters aren’t buying President Joe Biden’s rhetoric about the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, nor do they agree with the media about last summer’s “mostly peaceful protests.”

While support from black voters was crucial to President Joe Biden’s election, most voters – including most black voters – don’t believe the new president has improved race relations or made life better for young black people.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

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