Trump to Reporters Before Marine One, Hours After the Omar Search: 'I Have Nothing to Do With It'; 'Really Up to the DOJ'

Before leaving the White House for a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump was asked about the search of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home. He said: “I understand they’re looking at her very carefully. I’ve always found her to be totally crooked, personally, but that has nothing to do with me. I think she’s a terrible person… but that’s really up to the DOJ; I have nothing to do with it.” (Wording is from the Factba.se transcript and the video captions; the clip begins mid-answer, and the reporter’s question is not in it.)

Binding note: the Guardian’s “nothing to do with it” and “up to the DoJ” are both in the transcript. Trump says “I understand they’re looking at it very carefully” in the captions; outlets print “her.”

Context: this is two days after the Clarksville rally remark that Vance “and our people are looking at it very strongly,” and the day the search happened. Within 48 hours the President says both that his people are looking at it and that it is up to the DOJ.

Date kind: event date (remarks before departing the White House for a Youngstown, OH rally, Monday 2026-10-12; Roll Call Factba.se video uploaded 2026-10-12 21:17 UTC).

See 2026-10-12–hsi-searches-rep-ilhan-omar-dc-home-doj-warrant-22-days-before-midterms.