New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has taken to Twitter to accuse Fox News political commentator Jeanine Pirro of being indirectly responsible for the threat of violence against Omar, tweeting that when Pirro "goes on Fox [and] rallies people to think hijabs are threatening, it leads to this."
"Folks who imply we're 'bad' for politics, the party, the country, etc. have no idea the threats we deal with because of that kind of language. Talks policy, not personal," Ocasio-Cortez urged.
Ocasio-Cortez's comments came after the Department of Justice confirmed the arrest of a 55-year-old New York man over threats to "put a bullet in" Omar's "(expletive) skull" over her alleged ties to terrorists. If convicted, the man faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
As usual, Ocasio-Cortez's comments left no one indifferent online, with social media dividing along partisan lines to defend the congresswoman, or attack her, with the debate quickly degenerating into a debate about hijabs and terrorists.
Some critics took a more comedic angle, pointing to Ocasio-Cortez' recent wine- and IKEA furniture-filled Instagram livestream, or referencing other memes.
Finally, a few users attempted to find some sort of middle ground, saying they were opposed to both sides, for one reason or another.