Omar, Having Mastered Roman Numerals, Asks Who is this ‘President Eleven Jinping?’
WASHINGTON — Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) expressed sharp frustration Thursday after concluding that China’s leader is named President Eleven Jinping, a discovery she said followed intensive study of Roman numerals with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“People think I’m stupid, but I figured out that the II in World War II means two,” Omar told reporters outside the Capitol. “I understand Roman numerals now, but who is this President Eleven Jinping?”
Omar said she had been reviewing the numbering system and determined that XI equals eleven. “I’ve been studying up on Roman numerals with my brilliant scholar friend, AOC,” she said. “So I now know II is 2 and XI is eleven. Is Jinping the eleventh Chinese president? We demand to know!”
Pressed on whether she believed Xi Jinping’s given name was literally “Eleven,” Omar grew irritated and asked reporters to confirm the spelling. After several minutes of back-and-forth, she ended the exchange.
“I have wifey duties,” she said, turning away. She added that those duties involved her brother/husband, then left without further comment.
Aides did not immediately clarify whether Omar was referring to a translation error, a nickname, or a newly identified head of state.
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