Ilhan Omar Talks About 'Trauma' Of War After GOP Lawmaker Dismissed Her PTSD

LOADING ERROR LOADING Rep. Ilhan Omar, who fled war in Somalia as a child, is speaking out about the trauma of war for civilians ― and challenging the notion that post-traumatic stress disorder is an issue that only soldiers face, after Rep. Jim Banks appeared to dismiss her mention of her own PTSD as “offensive” to military veterans. And I find peace knowing that I serve with great advocates for peace and people who have shown courage against war.” Banks, who served in the military in Afghanistan, later posted a clip of Omar’s speech on Twitter, saying her comments on being “stricken with PTSD” were “a disgrace and offensive to our nation’s veterans who really do have PTSD.” Omar directly responded to Banks’s tweet Wednesday, saying: “I survived war as a child and deal with post-traumatic stress disorder — much like many who have served or lived through war.” She also called it “shameful” that he would “erase the PTSD of survivors.” Banks later appeared to respond, confusingly accusing Omar of “chang the subject.” Asked to clarify whether Banks believes PTSD is reserved for soldiers, Banks’s team told HuffPost he “didn’t say that” and he ”believes civilians can suffer from PTSD.” His team then lobbed new allegations, claiming that Omar was “giggling” during the press conference and “making light of the threat to our American troops.” They also accused her of “employing PTSD to take a partisan swipe at the president.” Omar’s team had no comment in response to Banks’s statements. Several people came to Omar’s defense on Twitter after Banks’s tweet, as well as after a similar one from Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who ridiculed Omar for saying talk of war was making her feel “ill.” Jason Kander, a former Missouri secretary of state and a veteran ― who has spoken of struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the military in Afghanistan ― tweeted at Rep. Banks: “It’s not up to us to decide who is and is not ‘worthy’ of PTSD.” Rep. Banks, You and I spent a few months in Afghanistan. That’s how old @IlhanMN was when she fled for her life as her home was decimated by war I know you think war’s a for profit video game @IngrahamAngle but you’d be wise to take a seat and take your cues from folks like Ilhan who actually know what they’re talking about pic.twitter.com/9a0XfFPfwP — Ayanna Pressley January 8, 2020 Common Defense, a grassroots group of veterans against Trump, called out Banks, saying: “Veterans like us know that people wearing uniforms aren’t the only ones impacted by war.” Advertisement