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President Trump has escalated his criticism of Minnesota Democratic leaders over a widening welfare and childcare fraud scandal that he claims far exceeds initial projections of $19 billion. In a Saturday morning post on Truth Social, Trump directed particularly sharp attacks toward Rep. Ilhan Omar and Gov. Tim Walz.
“The Theft and Fraud in Minnesota is far greater than the 19 Billion Dollars originally projected,” Trump wrote. “The Biden Administration knew this FRAUD was happening, and did absolutely nothing about it.”
The former president called Omar a “scammer” and suggested that she and “her absolutely terrible friends from Somalia should all be in jail right now or, far worse, send them back to Somalia.” Trump has frequently targeted Omar in speeches and social media posts, repeatedly questioning her legitimacy as an American citizen.
Trump also lambasted Walz, misspelling his surname while writing, “‘Governor’ Waltz is either the most CORRUPT government official in history, or the most INCOMPETENT. Even a very low IQ person, of which there are many, should have known what was going on in Minnesota!!!”
The fraud cases in question involve extensive investigations into Minnesota’s welfare programs. Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of individuals—many of Somali descent—in connection with schemes allegedly siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars from government assistance programs, including food aid and services for autism. Separate investigations have examined alleged daycare fraud in the state.
This public criticism comes just days after Omar was sprayed with a substance during a Minneapolis town hall. Trump suggested without evidence that she might have staged the incident, again calling her a “fraud.”
Omar has repeatedly stated that Trump’s rhetoric against her and the Somali community directly correlates with increases in death threats she receives. Last month, she described the former president as a “racist,” “bigot,” “xenophobic,” and “Islamophobic” in response to his attacks.
The ongoing political feud between Trump and Walz has intensified since Walz became Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. Trump has consistently blamed the governor for the state’s fraud scandals, characterizing his leadership as failed. In previous social media posts, Trump has used offensive language to insult Walz, drawing public condemnation.
Trump’s accusations that the Biden administration knowingly ignored the fraud add another dimension to this political battle. Congressional investigations into what some lawmakers have termed “industrial-scale fraud” in Minnesota continue to unfold, with potential implications for state governance and federal oversight of assistance programs.
The scandal represents one of the largest alleged welfare fraud cases in recent U.S. history, with ongoing prosecutions revealing extensive networks that allegedly exploited vulnerabilities in multiple government assistance programs over several years. As investigations progress, the full scope and impact of the fraud continues to emerge, along with questions about oversight failures at both state and federal levels.
For both Omar and Walz, Trump’s attacks represent a continuation of long-running political conflicts that have often centered on immigration, governance, and alleged corruption—themes that continue to resonate in broader national political discourse.
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9 Comments
Fraud in government programs is always unacceptable. However, making such sweeping claims requires credible evidence. I hope a thorough, nonpartisan investigation can get to the bottom of this.
Absolutely. Politicizing these issues does a disservice to taxpayers and erodes public trust. A measured, fact-based approach is needed.
Taxpayer money should be protected from fraud and misuse, no matter the source. I look forward to seeing the results of a comprehensive, unbiased investigation into these allegations.
The welfare and childcare systems are complex and vulnerable to abuse. If this fraud occurred, it’s crucial that the responsible parties are held accountable, regardless of political affiliation.
These are serious allegations that warrant careful scrutiny. I hope the relevant authorities can provide the public with a clear, impartial accounting of the facts surrounding this case.
While I’m troubled by the scale of this alleged fraud, I’ll withhold judgment until a full and impartial inquiry can establish the facts. Inflammatory rhetoric from any side is counterproductive.
Fraud and mismanagement of public funds are always concerning. However, accusations should be substantiated with verifiable data, not partisan rhetoric. The public deserves transparency and accountability from all officials.
Agreed. These types of claims require rigorous investigation by independent authorities, not political grandstanding.
This is a serious allegation, if true. The scale of fraud is staggering. I’d like to see more details and evidence from credible sources before drawing any conclusions.