Fabricated Mugshot Gains Traction
In December 2025, social media platforms saw the circulation of a doctored photograph purporting to show Representative Ilhan Omar in a police booking photo. The image, which removed her head covering to expose her hair, was shared alongside text urging users to spread it further.
The post coincided with Omar's public condemnation of the White House's announced expansion of travel restrictions, which she denounced on X. "The racism is not subtle," the Minnesota Democrat stated, referencing measures affecting nationals from countries including Somalia.
Political Context and Response
This episode occurred during renewed exchanges between Omar and former President Donald Trump, who questioned her citizenship and marital status following her criticism. The Trump administration defended the travel policy as necessary for national security.
Investigations revealed the image to be a composite. The base photograph originated from a 2019 Associated Press image by J. Scott Applewhite, while the hairline was sourced from an unrelated mugshot of a man from South Wales.
While Omar was arrested in 2022 for civil disobedience during abortion rights protests, no evidence supports any arrest occurring in 2025. Fact-checking organizations confirmed the manipulated nature of the widely shared content.
