Ilhan Omar fires back at conservative pastor over Islamophobic comments: 'You’re gonna have to just deal'

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Democratic Congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar had a quick-witted answer for a conservative pastor who lamented how the Congress floor “look like an Islamic Republic” as the new elected officials take office

“Well sir, the floor of Congress is going to look like America,” Ms Omar—one of the first two Muslim women elected into the legislative branch—tweeted with a teary-eyed laughing emoji. “And you’re gonna have to just deal.”

The anti-Muslim comments in question came from conservative commentator and pastor EW Jackson.

“The floor of Congress is now going to look like an Islamic republic,” Mr Jackson said. “We are a Judeo-Christian country. We are a nation rooted and grounded in Christianity and that’s that. And anybody that doesn’t like that, go live somewhere else. It’s very simple. Just go live somewhere else. Don’t try to change our country into some sort of Islamic republic or try to base our country on Sharia law.”

Mr Jackson’s statements were targeted at Ms Omar, referencing reports that Democrats are looking to overturn a ban on headwear on the House floor to accommodate the Minnesota Democrat and other Muslim and Sikh lawmakers in the future.

Joining Ms Omar as the first Muslim congresswoman is Democratic Representative-elect Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Ms Omar, a Somali-American refugee. is the first woman wearing the hijab elected into Congress.

Mr Jackson, who lost his Senate bid in the Republican primaries earlier this year, complained about their campaign victories, stating that Americans voted for congressional office is “just beyond the pale.”

“The fact that we’re electing these people to Congress and electing them to office is just beyond the pale,” he said. “Now, don’t get me wrong, I believe in the freedom of religion, I believe in the First Amendment, but I’ll tell you what, I’m not voting for a Muslim to serve in any office. Me, personally, I’m not doing it. I’m not doing it. Period. I’m not doing it.”

Even though Mr Jackson admitted his prejudice towards Muslim candidates when voting, he insists he is not Islamophobic. Mr Jackson defends his views and remarks by saying he does not agree with Islam.

“The threat to humanity is not merely radical Islam,” he added. “The threat to humanity is Islam, period. That’s right, I said it and I mean it.