Quick Read
- Aliya Rahman, a guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar, was arrested by Capitol police during the State of the Union address on February 25, 2026.
- Rahman, who is disabled, claims she was standing silently when police ordered her to sit, leading to a forcible removal and alleged shoulder injuries.
- Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has demanded a full investigation into the “heavy-handed response,” calling it a “chilling message about the state of our democracy.”
- Capitol Police stated Rahman was arrested for unlawful conduct and disrupting Congress, citing ticket warnings against demonstrations.
- The incident occurred amid other Democratic lawmakers’ protests against President Trump’s immigration policies during his speech.
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) has called for an immediate investigation into the arrest of her guest, Aliya Rahman, by Capitol police during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. The incident, which saw Rahman removed and later hospitalized before being booked, has sparked concerns about the heavy-handed response to peaceful protest within the halls of Congress.
Rahman, who identifies as disabled, stated she was standing silently in the gallery during the President’s nearly two-hour speech when officers repeatedly ordered her to sit down. Despite her claims of disability and attempts to explain her need to move, Capitol police forcibly removed her, an action Rahman later said caused shoulder injuries. She was subsequently transported to George Washington University hospital for treatment before being booked at the United States Capitol Police headquarters.
Ilhan Omar’s Guest Arrested During State of the Union
According to the Capitol Police, Rahman was arrested for unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress. A police statement confirmed, “The guest was told to sit down, but refused to obey our lawful orders. It is illegal to disrupt the Congress and demonstrate in the congressional buildings.” The police further noted that all State of the Union tickets explicitly state that demonstrating is prohibited. Rahman, however, maintained in an interview with Democracy Now that she stood silently, without any signs, gestures, or sounds, noting that “all kinds of people were standing up all night.”
Congresswoman Omar Demands Full Investigation
In response to her guest’s arrest, Representative Omar issued a strong statement, expressing deep concern over the incident. “My guest, Aliya Rahman, stood up silently in the gallery during the president’s speech for a short period of time, part of which other guests were also standing,” Omar stated. She added that “reports indicate she was aggressively handled until someone intervened to secure medical attention.” Omar emphasized that “the heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy,” and she explicitly called for “a full explanation of why this arrest occurred.” Omar later confirmed on CNN that Rahman was “back and safe” after her hospital visit and release.
Protests and Political Tensions at the Address
The arrest of Omar’s guest occurred amidst a highly charged State of the Union address marked by several protests from Democratic lawmakers. Congresswoman Omar and Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) were among a small group who shouted “You have killed Americans!” as President Trump discussed his administration’s immigration crackdown and enforcement actions. Omar later clarified on social media that she “had to remind Trump that his administration was responsible for killing two of my constituents” during immigration raids in her Minnesota district in January.
President Trump reacted strongly to these protests, particularly singling out Omar and Tlaib. In a post on his Truth Social platform late on Wednesday, Trump referred to the two Muslim lawmakers as “crooked and corrupt politicians” who should be “removed from the US” and “institutionalised.” He described their behavior as having “the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick.” While lawmakers like Omar and Tlaib are protected by the speech or debate clause of the Constitution for their actions on the House floor, guests in the gallery do not share the same immunity, a distinction highlighted by the Capitol Police.
The arrest of Aliya Rahman, a guest of a sitting U.S. Congresswoman, for a silent protest during a high-profile presidential address underscores the escalating tensions surrounding freedom of expression within legislative spaces. This incident prompts critical examination of the rules governing visitor conduct in Congress, particularly when contrasted with the protected speech of elected officials, and raises questions about the potential chilling effect on peaceful dissent.