Ilhan Omar rejects idea of Biden or Buttigieg facing off against Trump in 2020, says their nomination would be tragic

The Congresswoman said she endorsed Bernie Sanders as her 2020 candidate because he always follows his values

UPDATED FEB 27, 2020

Freshman Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on Thursday said that the idea of 2020 Democratic hopefuls like former Vice President Joe Biden or South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg facing off against President Donald Trump would be a tragedy.

The Minnesota Representative made the statement while appearing on The Intercept’s 'Deconstructed' podcast.

The Democrat made the statement after she was asked about the field of 2020 candidates and whether she preferred Biden or Buttigieg. Omar replied with "nope" before characterizing their prospective nominations as "tragic."

The podcast host, Mehdi Hasan, asked her: "But if you had to pick one? If one of them is the candidate for your party, who would you rather it be?” Omar replied with: "So you’re saying if something tragic happens and they ended up being the nominee?”

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks as Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) listen during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

The Congresswoman then explained why she endorsed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders as her 2020 candidate stating that he was someone she could put her faith in because he follows his values no matter what.

“Sometimes you have to be reminded about the vision you truly believe in, and where your core values lie,” Omar said. “And for me, I know that there are people that have to switch some things around, and there are people that are just easy to believe in. And I was reminded that Bernie is one of the people.”

The Minnesota Representative endorsed Sanders officially last week as she joined her fellow "Squad" member, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who appeared at a rally with Sanders last weekend.

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden shake hands after the Democratic Presidential Debate at Otterbein University on October 15, 2019 in Westerville, Ohio. (Getty Images)

Omar also talked about President Trump targeting her saying every girl who even looks like her might be in danger.

"We have done everything that we can to engage them in a conversation about how they’re putting my life in danger and the lives of people who share my identities,” Omar said. "When they describe me as a terrorist, every single Somali girl or Muslim girl that’s walking down the street that resembles me, her life is also in danger."