Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), a member of the Republican Party and the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from Florida, posted a criticism of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on X on April 26, 2026.
Luna’s post came in response to a statement Omar made following the shooting near the main security screening area for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2026.
Omar had posted on X: “There is no place for political violence in our country. I am relieved that the President and the attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last night are safe.”
Luna responded by writing: “You literally just reposted Hakeem Jeffries quote calling for ‘total warfare everywhere’ only a days ago. Start being responsible with your platform instead of calling for violence.”
The statement Luna referenced was a post by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on April 21, 2026, which Omar had reposted to her followers on social media. Jeffries wrote: “We will crush the DeSantis Dummymander in Florida next. Maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”
The Jeffries “maximum warfare” comment was made in the context of redistricting in Virginia. Some Republicans used his words out of context, linking them to the White House correspondents’ dinner hotel shooting.
After Virginians narrowly voted to approve a new map that could give Democrats a 10-1 majority, Jeffries said at a press conference: “We are in an era of maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.” It was a direct reference to an anonymous source’s characterization of the White House’s strategy on mid-decade redistricting in a New York Times story last summer.
Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting Saturday night at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, was charged on Monday with attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump.
Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, who was arrested near the screening area outside the banquet hall. One officer was struck in a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover; no other injuries were reported.
Jeffries defended his remarks Monday, stating: “As it relates to the comment related to ‘maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time,’ in connection with the redistricting battle that Republicans launched, I stand by it.” Addressing criticism from Republicans, Jeffries said: “You can continue to criticize me for it. I don’t give a damn about the criticism … get lost.”
Omar is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district since 2019 and is a member of the Democratic Party.