Ilhan Omar: patriotism means defending the Constitution, not obeying the president
Minnesota Democrat used Independence Day to argue that holding power to account — not deferring to it — is higher form of loyalty
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) — Representative Ilhan Omar marked Independence Day with a direct challenge to the idea that patriotism means loyalty to a president, arguing that defending the Constitution and democratic institutions must come first.
In a video posted to X on July 4, the Minnesota Democrat framed patriotism as an active civic duty: protecting constitutional rights, defending democracy, and holding leaders accountable. She did not name President Donald Trump, but the timing and substance left little doubt about the target.
“Proud to be an American. True patriotism is defending the Constitution, protecting our democracy, and striving for liberty and justice for all. Our country has never been perfect, but its promise is worth protecting,” she wrote alongside the video.
Across nearly two minutes, Omar rejected the notion that patriotism requires deference to those in power. Democratic participation, she argued, depends on citizens staying engaged, demanding accountability, and exercising their right to criticize their leaders.
“It is really important for people to stay vigilant,” she said, adding that patriotism is not measured by support for an administration but by defending the country’s institutions and democratic values.
She pointed out that the country’s major advances came because citizens challenged existing policy rather than accepting it, and invoked free-speech protections to argue that Americans should be able to criticize the president without having their loyalty questioned. Accountability, in her framing, is the substance of democracy, not a betrayal of it.
Omar also drew on her own history as a refugee who became one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, connecting her message to immigration. Newcomers today, she argued, are pursuing the same opportunities that have always drawn people to the United States.
“This country gave us hope,” she said, urging Americans not to look down on those seeking what earlier generations found here.
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