President Donald Trump intensified his critique of Minnesota's handling of federal funds on Friday, asserting that fraud within the state significantly surpasses the previously estimated $19 billion. His comments included a pointed threat toward Representative Ilhan Omar, suggesting she could face consequences more severe than imprisonment.
In a detailed message shared on Truth Social, President Trump charged Minnesota legislators with permitting extensive misuse of federal resources, claiming that the scope of fraud exceeds prior calculations. He cited the Feeding Our Future scandal, which involved the misappropriation of funds earmarked for child nutrition programs, as a prime example of the state's systemic issues.
“The magnitude cannot be overstated,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson remarked, regarding the scale of the fraud in Minnesota.
Aimee Bock, the previous leader of Feeding Our Future, was found guilty on several charges, including fraud, bribery, and conspiracy, related to misdirecting federal money. Prosecutors have suggested that up to half of the estimated $18 billion in federal support dispatched to Minnesota since 2018 may have been illicitly taken or falsely claimed.
In December, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson expressed the gravity of the situation, describing the uncovered fraud in Minnesota as "staggering, industrial-scale fraud." President Trump directly attributed the situation to the state's Democratic leadership, accusing them of either corruption or incompetence in safeguarding taxpayer dollars.
He specifically called out Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in his social media post, labeling him as "either the most CORRUPT government official in history, or the most INCOMPETENT." In response to the Feeding Our Future case, Governor Walz has denounced the fraud and has directed a third-party audit of 14 high-risk Medicaid programs.
President Trump also directed scathing criticism toward Rep. Omar, associating her with the broader issue and implying she could face criminal repercussions. This comes amid ongoing federal attention on Minnesota, including increased activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as reported by the Daily Mail.
The Trump administration recently mandated that Somalis in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status must depart by March 17. This reversal of a renewal granted under President Joe Biden's administration in 2022, which cited Somalia's instability and humanitarian crises, was defended by Trump as a measure to safeguard national security and prevent fraud and criminal activities.
Rep. Omar, a Somali-born U.S. citizen, has been a vocal critic of President Trump's immigration policies and rhetoric. Following a recent incident at a town hall event in Minneapolis, where a man sprayed her with apple cider vinegar, she accused President Trump of inciting threats against her and her community.
Despite the political tensions, Governor Walz announced that he does not intend to pursue elected office in the future, opting instead to serve in other capacities.
