Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's Latest Stumble: She Thinks World War 2 ("WWII") is "World War Eleven"

In a recent floor speech addressing the Alien Enemies Act and historical precedents for detaining immigrants during wartime, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) appeared to misread "World War II" as "World War Eleven." While discussing the internment of Japanese, German, and Italian nationals during that conflict, she stated something to the effect of "Japanese Italian immigrants during World War Eleven," before pausing and correcting herself with a quick "Two, sorry."

The verbal slip-widely circulated in video clips-drew immediate attention for what many viewed as a basic error in reading Roman numerals (II) or simple historical reference. Critics seized on it as emblematic of broader concerns about elected officials' grasp of U.S. history, especially on a topic tied to national security and wartime policy. Supporters, meanwhile, dismissed it as a minor tongue-tie under the pressure of speaking.

This marks the latest in a string of high-profile gaffes for the Minnesota Democrat, who has long been a lightning rod for controversy over her statements on foreign policy, Israel, and domestic issues.

Minnesota Rep Ilhan Omar announces we have been through 11 World Wars

“The last time the Alien Enemies Act was invoked. It was used to detain and deport German, Japanese, Italian immigrants during World War 11”

There have only been 2 World Wars, not 11 pic.twitter.com/zGR5s70KpI

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) April 27, 2026

Compounding the scrutiny is another recent "mistake" Omar herself attributed to external error: a dramatic swing in her reported net worth. In her 2025 congressional financial disclosure, Omar and her husband, Tim Mynett (a political consultant whose firms were listed in the filing), initially reported assets valued between roughly $6 million and $30 million-a staggering jump from prior years that raised eyebrows among Republicans and prompted calls for investigation.

Facing questions from outlets like The Wall Street Journal and Fox News, Omar's office moved quickly to amend the forms. In a revised disclosure filed in mid-April 2026, the couple's household assets were slashed to between $18,004 and $95,000. Omar's team blamed the discrepancy on an "accounting error" by her husband's business accountants, who had reportedly listed gross asset values without subtracting liabilities-creating a misleading picture of far greater wealth. A spokesperson emphasized that the congresswoman "is not a millionaire" and even carries student loan debt.

Her attorney echoed this in a letter to congressional ethics officials, noting that members of Congress and spouses routinely rely on professionals for such filings and that the original numbers were submitted "in good faith." Omar herself has largely ducked direct questions from reporters on the revisions.

"Consider the astronomical levels of stupidity on display here. Ilhan Omar doesn’t know how to read Roman numerals AND she thinks there have been 11 world wars. Either one of those would be reasonable justification to remove her from office and send her back to Somalia. But both? My God." Matt Walsh wrote on X.

The timing is notable: the wealth correction came amid heightened political pressure, including from President Trump and House Republicans, who have scrutinized Omar's finances alongside separate investigations into alleged Minnesota welfare fraud schemes involving Somali-American communities (though no direct link to Omar has been proven). Her office has consistently denied any wrongdoing.Together, the "World War Eleven" flub and the multimillion-dollar disclosure reversal have fueled fresh online debate about standards for public officials. While slips of the tongue happen to everyone, and accounting oversights aren't unique to politicians, the combination has left critics asking whether these represent isolated mistakes-or symptoms of deeper issues in preparation, oversight, and accountability. Omar's defenders argue the focus is politically motivated nitpicking of a progressive voice who challenges the status quo. Either way, both episodes have kept her in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.