Ilhan Omar backed by House Republicans after Minnesota town hall attack

By Fox News · Fox News

House Republicans are coalescing around progressive "Squad" member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., after she was attacked during a town hall in Minneapolis on Tuesday night. "This is totally unacceptable. I am glad Rep. Omar is okay," Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., wrote on X in response to a video of the incident. It's a rare show of bipartisanship in the face of political violence that has become common in recent years amid increasingly volatile rhetoric on both sides. Support for Omar came from both conservative and moderate Republicans after a man appeared to confront her and spray a substance on her before he was quickly subdued at her public event. REP MAXWELL FROST ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED AT SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL IN RACIALLY-CHARGED INCIDENT "Political, religious, and ideological differences never justify violence," Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, wrote of the attack. "Those who resort to violence to make a political point should understand that such actions only undermine the very rights that form the foundation of our Republic." Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., noted that political violence against members of Congress had been escalating for some time. "The assault on Congresswoman Omar is disturbing and unacceptable, and the attacker must be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law," he said in his own statement. "This attack is the latest of thousands of acts and threats of violence directed against Congress over the past year, resulting in a 57% increase just since 2024." GUNFIRE, ARSON AND VANDALISM: TRACKING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN AMERICA Moderate Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., similarly said Wednesday morning, "I condemn the attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar that occurred yesterday." "We always have the right to free speech and to petition the government, but political violence must be dealt with sternly. The criminal here needs to spend some time behind bars," Bacon said. And Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., noted she "deeply disagreed" with Omar but said she was "deeply disturb…