Rep. Lauren Boebert apologized to Muslims on Friday for joking about Rep. Ilhan Omar potentially carrying a bomb in a backpack into the U.S. Capitol building.

Boebert, R-Colo., made the remark while speaking at an event to her supporters during Congress’ Thanksgiving break. 

The freshman Republican lawmaker said she and one of her staffers were leaving the Capitol in an elevator recently when a Capitol Police officer “with fret all over his face” ran toward the elevator in an unsuccessful attempt to stop it.

"I look to my left and there she is: Ilhan Omar,” Boebert said. “And I said, ‘Well, she doesn’t have a backpack. We should be fine,’" Boebert said, sparking cheers. 

Boebert claimed she then told Omar, D-Minn., who is Muslim: ‘Oh, look, the jihad squad decided to show up for work today.’” 

In response to video of the comments circulating on social media, Omar accused Boebert of fabricating the story.

“Fact, this buffoon looks down when she sees me at the Capitol, this whole story is made up,” Omar tweeted Thursday night. “Sad she thinks bigotry gets her clout.

“Anti-Muslim bigotry isn’t funny & shouldn’t be normalized,” the Minnesota congresswoman added. “Congress can’t be a place where hateful and dangerous Muslims tropes get no condemnation.”

Boebert posted on Twitter on Friday: “I apologize to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep. Omar. I have reached out to her office to speak with her directly. There are plenty of policy differences to focus on without this unnecessary distraction.”

Boebert’s earlier comments were quickly condemned by some members of Congress and Muslims. 

“These pathetic racist lies will not only endanger the life of @IlhanMN, but will increase hate crimes towards Muslims,” tweeted Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who is also Muslim. “The continued silence & inaction towards this hate-filled colleague and others is enabling violence. It must stop.”

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., called Capitol Hill “a toxic work environment for Muslim members and staff when bigots routinely spew racist, Islamaophobic vitriol unchecked with no consequence.”

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., called Boebert’s remarks “shameful, deeply offensive & dangerous.” 

“Yet another blatant display of Islamophobia targeting @IlhanMN,” Pressley tweeted. “These comments are personally hurtful, legitimately endanger her & the broader Muslim community. Rhetoric like this must be denounced & anyone spewing it held to account.”

Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a Republican often at odds with his party, responded to the video on Twitter by writing, “Boebert is TRASH.”

Linda Sarsour, a prominent Muslim American activist, described Boebert’s comments as “despicable.”

“How do they allow this woman to still serve in Congress?” she posted on Twitter. 

And MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan, who also is Muslim, asked: “How is this ok? How is this not worthy of censure? Of being stripped of committee assignments? I don’t expect anything from the GOP anymore but, hey, Dems? Anyone going to do anything about this racism and anti-Muslim bigotry? Do Muslim Americans not matter?”

The Democratic-led House last week censured Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., for posting a video on social media that showed animation depicting him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., with a sword and attacking President Joe Biden.