# Was Ilhan Omar going to punch her attacker? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 28, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120 "2026-01-28T13:45:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/21 "2026-01-28T21:06:02Z")
I figure it was the strong aroma to make folks think it was a dangerous substance is why he chose vinegar. Vinegar will burn your eyes if splashed in. I don’t think it’s permanently damaging. Boy, I wanted her to deck that nut. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/22 "2026-01-28T21:06:31Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It’s supposedly a natural hair conditioner, which can also fight germs and is good for skin care. > > The guy is reportedly a MAGA nutjob, and my WAG is that the “nut” part made him think that apple cider vinegar would send a strong message about something. Or maybe he wanted to attack her with acid and it was the most acidic thing he could find in his house. I think it’s the 2nd part of what you wrote; it was just the first thing handy. Apple cider vinegar is supposed to cure pretty much everything in the world of people who “do their own research”. Rodale Press, Mother Earth Journal, that People’s Pharmacy syndicated column in the newspapers, etc - it’s been a panacea for pretty much everything for more decades than I’ve been alive. He probably has many bottles at home to help him with his gout and his goiters and his leg cramps and his dropsy and his blood pH and his arthritis… ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/23 "2026-01-28T21:08:21Z")
Is this some extremely ignorant rendition of an acid-to-the-face attack? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/24 "2026-01-28T21:08:22Z")
Diabetes and body lice. Don’t forget those. Plus if you get good vinegar you have the makings of a nice salad dressing. Win-win. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/25 "2026-01-28T21:14:34Z")
That’s kind of what I was thinking, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/26 "2026-01-28T21:15:56Z")
He’s reported to have early Parkinson’s. I’ll bet the apple cider vinegar is some sort of home remedy for that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/27 "2026-01-28T21:58:28Z")
How was security able to take him down with only 2 of them? And avoid shooting him in the back, no less! ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/28 "2026-01-28T23:26:09Z")
I don’t know, because it wasn’t right-wing uber-security? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/29 "2026-01-29T03:32:12Z")
I loved how Omar’s instant reaction was to turn and pursue the doofus, fists clenched. If security hadn’t got him under control so fast, I’d bet she would have lit into him. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/30 "2026-01-29T06:19:04Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I really want to describe him the way I really feel, but this is P&E, not the Pit. I posted a link to this story in the continuing cluster thread part 2 over in The BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/31 "2026-01-29T07:53:48Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > If security hadn’t got him under control so fast, I’d bet she would have lit into him. “I’m sure Congresswoman Omar feels much safer having vigilant security around her.” “Oh no, we’re not here to protect **her**.” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/32 "2026-01-29T08:48:52Z")
In her interview with Chris Hayes on MSNOW Wednesday evening, she describes instinctively trying to punch him, a reaction she attributes to being raised with older brothers: [https://youtu.be/qlb7vQvUbyY?si=yamHDB3MuK\_R5p92](https://youtu.be/qlb7vQvUbyY?si=yamHDB3MuK_R5p92) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120/33 "2026-01-29T20:46:57Z")
That was impressive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ilhan-omar-going-to-punch-her-attacker/1027120.md?page=1)