Washington, D.C. — A two-year-old verbal slip by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), in which she appeared to misread “World War II” as “World War Eleven,” has gone viral once again, this time coinciding with federal raids on Somali-owned childcare centers in her Minneapolis district accused of multimillion-dollar fraud.
The original incident occurred on January 22, 2025, during a news conference promoting the Neighbors Not Enemies Act. While reading prepared remarks, Omar stumbled over Roman numerals, saying “World War Eleven” before quickly correcting herself to “World War Two.” Video of the moment, which was later verified as authentic by fact-checkers including Snopes and Newsweek, drew immediate mockery online but had largely faded from public view until this week.
The clip regained traction on April 27, 2026, as news broke of federal investigations targeting several childcare facilities in Omar’s congressional district. Authorities allege the centers, many owned and operated by members of the local Somali-American community, defrauded government programs of millions of dollars through inflated enrollment numbers and false claims.
The resurfacing of the gaffe sparked renewed debate about Omar’s competence and fitness for office. On his popular podcast, Joe Rogan described the moment as “adorable,” while acknowledging it raised eyebrows. Other critics were less charitable. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) shared the clip on social media, writing, “This is the person helping write legislation that affects every American. World War Eleven should be a wake-up call.”
Defenders of the Minnesota congresswoman pushed back, arguing the mistake was a minor and relatable slip, especially for a Somali refugee who learned English as a non-native speaker. Supporters emphasized that verbal stumbles happen to politicians across the political spectrum and should not overshadow her policy work or personal story.
Omar’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the renewed attention to the 2025 gaffe or its connection to the ongoing fraud investigation in her district.
The timing has fueled criticism from opponents who argue the episode highlights broader issues of accountability within Omar’s district, where she has long enjoyed strong support from the Somali-American community. Some conservative commentators have drawn links between the verbal error and questions about oversight of federal funds flowing into programs in the area.
As the fraud probe continues, the revived “World War Eleven” moment has once again become a flashpoint in the national conversation about political competence, immigration, and public trust in elected officials.
