On Friday, all three network morning shows celebrated far-left Congresswoman Ilhan Omar returning home to a “hero’s welcome” in Minneapolis from her most ardent liberal supporters following President Trump’s controversial attacks against her. Reporters for CBS, ABC, and NBC all marveled at the staged event while slamming Trump and his supporters as racist.
CBS This Morning led the way in gushing over the airport welcome for Omar, devoting an over two-minute long report to the topic. “Racist chant backlash....President Trump tries to distance himself after his racist tweet erupts into a rallying cry. And the Democratic lawmaker who was the target returns home to a hero’s welcome,” proclaimed fill-in co-host Jericka Duncan at the top of the broadcast.
Introducing the segment minutes later, she touted: “Congresswoman Omar returned home to Minnesota to a different kind of chant.” A soundbite ran of Omar’s left-wing supporters chanting: “Welcome home, Ihan! Welcome home, Ilhan!” Reporting live from Minneapolis, correspondent Dean Reynolds enthused: “Omar has a lot of supporters here in her home town, as you might expect. They turned out in force last night, both at the Minneapolis airport and at a town hall later on.”
Amid the liberal crowd, he predictably discovered that “those we spoke to blame the President for picking a fight with the Congresswoman, a fight they described as disrespectful and dangerous.”
Footage played of Omar speaking to her fans and taking a divisive tone: “We are going to continue to be a nightmare to this President. Because his policies – because his policies are a nightmare to us. And we are not deterred. We are not frightened. We are ready!” Reynolds chimed in: “Congresswoman Omar told supporters at the Minneapolis airport she is not backing down.”
The reporter then noted: “There was more applause for her later at a town hall, where she kept the discussion on policy, not politics.” However, Reynolds stuck to politics and sought out more denunciations of the President: “Many in the town hall’s audience said the President’s racist tweets and ramble-rousing rhetoric in North Carolina Wednesday night were deplorable.”
Wrapping up the fawning report, Reynolds highlighted one his favorite moments from the event: “And when one of her supporters told her never to back down from a bully, Congresswoman Omar said, quote, ‘Oh, he’s met his match.’”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, correspondent Jon Karl declared: “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar returned to her home district in Minnesota to hugs, cheers, and support from her constituents....The warm welcome came just 24 hours after Trump supporters chanted ‘Send her back.’” Clips were featured of Omar’s supporters chanting and the Democrat responding, “It sure feels good to be home.”
Echoing his CBS and ABC colleagues, on NBC’s Today show, correspondent Peter Alexander was thrilled: “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar went back to where she came from last night, her home district in Minnesota, where she was greeted with a hero’s welcome.” As footage ran of the chanting crowd later in the piece, Alexander observed: “Overnight, Omar returning to her home state. Greeted by a rousing welcome.”
All of Omar’s controversies were washed away as journalists joined her fan club.
Here is a full transcript of the July 19 report on CBS This Morning:
7:12 AM ET
JERICKA DUNCAN: Congresswoman Omar returned home to Minnesota to a different kind of chant.
CROWD: Welcome home, Ihan! Welcome home, Ilhan!
DUNCAN: As you heard there, supporters shouted, “Welcome home, Ihan!” yesterday. She was back in Minneapolis for a town hall. Dean Reynolds was there and joins us from Minneapolis. Dean, how have people in that area responded to this controversy?
DEAN REYNOLDS: Well, good morning. Omar has a lot of supporters here in her home town, as you might expect. They turned out in force last night, both at the Minneapolis airport and at a town hall later on. And those we spoke to blame the President for picking a fight with the Congresswoman, a fight they described as disrespectful and dangerous.
REP. ILHAN OMAR [D-MN]: We are going to continue to be a nightmare to this President. Because his policies – [Cheers] – because his policies are a nightmare to us. And we are not deterred. We are not frightened. We are ready! [Cheers]
REYNOLDS: Congresswoman Omar told supporters at the Minneapolis airport she is not backing down.
OMAR: And so we are going to continue to create that hope.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [OMAR SUPPORTER]: We have your back! [Cheers]
REYNOLDS: There was more applause for her later at a town hall, where she kept the discussion on policy, not politics.
OMAR: There are a lot of people that are trying to distract us now. But I want you all to know that we are not going to let them. [Cheers]
REYNOLDS: Many in the town hall’s audience said the President’s racist tweets and ramble-rousing rhetoric in North Carolina Wednesday night were deplorable.
DAWN TUVESON [TOWN HALL ATTENDEE]: I think most children are really uncomfortable with this behavior and probably realize there’s something wrong with the adults.
REYNOLDS: And there was a feeling here that the President was intentionally misrepresenting what the Congresswoman has said about her adopted country.
DAVID BLOCK [TOWN HALL ATTENDEE]: The idea that patriotism is something you have to love the country or else get out of it. I think she loves the country but she’s wants it to be better than it is right now.
REYNOLDS: And when one of her supporters told her never to back down from a bully, Congresswoman Omar said, quote, “Oh, he’s met his match.”Anthony?
ANTHONY MASON: Alright, Dean, thank you.
