Ilhan Omar Accused of ‘Christianophobia’ over Viral Atmosphere Prayer Clip Remarks

Joshua KleinApril 18, 2022

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) suffered backlash online, with some accusing the congresswoman of anti-Christian sentiment, in response to her remarks over a video of passengers singing Christian music on a plane.

In the now-viral video, captioned “Worshipping Jesus 30,000 feet in the air,” passengers are seen singing a popular Christian worship song from within an airliner, though its full context is unclear.

The Minnesota Muslim congresswoman, responding to the clip, wrote: “I think my family and I should have a prayer session next time I am on a plane. How do you think it will end?”

I think my family and I should have a prayer session next time I am on a plane. How do you think it will end? pic.twitter.com/5696Erwsl5

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 17, 2022

According to TMZ, the clip was originally posted by Jack Jensz Jr., the founder of Kingdom Realm Ministries, who has been assisting Ukrainian refugees in Europe along with his congregation.

The clip had nearly 30 million views as of Sunday night.

In response to her tweet, Omar was blasted by many who took to Twitter to call out the Somalia-born congresswoman.

“I think you should shut up and stop being a bigot,” wrote conservative author and lawyer Kurt Schlichter.

I think you should shut up and stop being a bigot. https://t.co/8OoiuZsRGN

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) April 17, 2022

“My answer would get me banned,” wrote Lavern Spicer, a former Republican Congressional candidate in Florida.

My answer would get me banned.

— Lavern Spicer🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@lavern_spicer) April 17, 2022

“Ilhan Omar @IlhanMN attacks a group of Christian volunteers on an @easyJet flight in Europe delivering aid to Ukraine, because they’re singing,” wrote activist and businessman Avi Kaner.

“She has no idea about what transpired and whether or not it was approved. But it’s suddenly about her,” he added.

“Why does this person who lives free and liberated because of the compassion of our country not appreciate that we’re a Judeo-Christian society uniquely founded to protect those of all faiths?” wrote talk radio host Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo.

“Why does she constantly denigrate the place that offered her so much?” he asked. “Praying for her.”

“I spent decades flying in the Middle East. We weren’t even allowed to bring Bibles into the countries or worship. This sort of impromptu singing would turn into arrests and imprisonment,” wrote former congressional Republican candidate and Air Force pilot Buzz Patterson.

“I’ll celebrate our freedoms here. You do you,” he added.

I spent decades flying in the Middle East. We weren’t even allowed to bring Bibles into the countries or worship. This sort of impromptu singing would turn into arrests and imprisonment. I’ll celebrate our freedoms here. You do you. @IlhanMN

— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) April 17, 2022

“Some people sang things…,” he wrote in another tweet, referencing Omar’s referring to the 9/11 terror attacks as a day in which “some people did something” during her infamous keynote address at a private fundraiser for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) of Greater Los Angeles.

“I doubt that people would care one bit. It’s the slitting of throats with box cutters and flying jetliners into buildings that we have an issue with. Next question,” wrote conservative commentator Todd Starnes.

“Leftist politician sneers at Christians….,” wrote Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

“Stop with the Christianphobia, Congresswoman,” wrote conservative author and YouTube personality Mark Dice.

Stop with the Christianphobia, Congresswoman.

— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) April 17, 2022

“If someone yelled Allahu Akbar I’d freak out, YOU’d freak out and ANY Muslim would freak out given the fact we still have many radical Islamists in our religion (Hizbollah, ISIS, Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas etc) all would love to hijack a plane for another 9/11 who we kidding..,” wrote former Miss Iraq Sarah Idan.

If someone yelled Allahu Akbar I’d freak out, YOU’d freak out and ANY Muslim would freak out given the fact we still have many radical Islamists in our religion (Hizbollah, ISIS, Muslim Brotherhood 😏, Hamas etc) all would love to hijack a plane for another 9/11 who we kidding..

— Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) April 17, 2022

“Instead of trying to blame Americans if you consider yourself a Muslim leader, this says a lot about the problem, let’s try to fix the issue that makes our religion look bad, we need reform, you need to be as vocal & take actions to end extremism & their anti-West ideology,” she wrote in another tweet.

“Qatar – a country you’re very familiar with – plays Islamic prayers on the intercom before takeoff on their planes. They have a designated prayer area & coordinates for Mecca are posted on the screens,” wrote Cicely Davis, a GOP challenger to Rep. Ilhan Omar.

“It’s no problem. The issue is you hate Christians & Jews & lots of Muslims,” she added.

“Naturally, @IlhanMN decided to attack Christians on Easter,” wrote Mike Davis, founder and president of the Internet Accountability Project (IAP).

Omar has a history of controversy, having been accused repeatedly of being antisemitic and anti-American.

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) blasted Omar in June after the congresswoman equated the United States and Israel to Hamas terrorists and the Taliban, claiming she was unfit to serve in Congress.

“Omar is an antisemite who hates America and hates American troops,” he said. “She has no place serving in Congress.”

Follow Joshua Klein on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.