Rep. Ilhan Omar said one of her invited guests was arrested during the State of the Union address delivered by Donald Trump after standing silently in the House gallery. According to United States Capitol Police, 43-year-old Aliya M. Rahman of Minneapolis was taken into custody Tuesday night after she stood up and refused repeated instructions from officers to sit down. The incident occurred around 10:07 p.m. during the speech. Police said all tickets for the State of the Union clearly state that demonstrations are not allowed inside the chamber.
Authorities said Rahman’s refusal to comply with their orders constituted a violation of D.C. Code §10-503.16, which prohibits disruptive conduct in congressional buildings. She was arrested for “unlawful conduct, disruption of Congress,” and later released with a citation, which police described as a routine procedure. Rahman had attended the address as one of four guests invited by Omar. The Minnesota Democrat has been outspoken in criticizing the administration’s immigration enforcement policies and has previously highlighted Rahman’s efforts to seek accountability from federal immigration authorities.
Rahman’s attorney, Alexa Van Brunt, disputed the police account and said her client was unfairly targeted. She said Rahman was standing silently and was not shouting, holding signs, or wearing any protest gear. Omar also criticized the arrest, calling the response excessive and requesting a full explanation from officials. She said Rahman was forcibly removed from the gallery and later received medical attention at George Washington University Hospital before being booked and released.
