Republicans call former refugee Ilhan Omar 'a disgrace' for saying Trump's war mongering is affecting her mental health

Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar has spoken out about the impact that the threat of war with Iran is having on her mental health.

Omar was a refugee who came to the United States from Somalia when she was eight years old. The Minnesota congresswoman has been on the receiving end of frequent racist attacks from president Trump since being elected to congress in 2018.

On Wednesday, she joined progressive Democrats to call for peace, saying that the escalating tensions and attacks between the US and Iran makes her feel "ill a little bit".

She said:

And I think every time I hear about — I hear of conversations around war, I find myself being stricken with PTSD. And I find peace knowing that I serve with great advocates for peace and people who have shown courage against war.

This didn’t go down well with conservatives.

Omar responded to these rebukes, saying that she survived war as a child and continues to deal with PTSD:

Much like many who have served or lived through war. It's shameful that you as a member of Congress would erase the PTSD of survivors.

But veterans organisation Common Defense stuck up for her, saying that condemnation is “ignorant”.

Fellow congresswoman Ayanna Pressley also threw her support behind Omar.

As tensions with Iran continue, Omar joined House Democrats to support a resolution that aims to end the mounting war between the president and Iran. She co-sponsored a resolution with California Democrat Barbara Lee to withdraw troops from the region by invoking the War Powers Act.

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