Trump Criticizes Minnesota Leaders Amid Welfare Fraud Scandal

President Donald Trump took aim at Democratic leaders on Saturday regarding a significant welfare and child care fraud scandal in Minnesota, reigniting a feud with Representative Ilhan Omar and Governor Tim Walz. Omar has previously accused him of being a “con artist,” while Walz has called Trump corrupt or incompetent.

In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed, “Theft and fraud in Minnesota is far greater than the $19 billion originally predicted.” He asserted that the Biden administration had been aware of the fraudulent activities yet did nothing to address them.

He then targeted both Omar and Walz, who have had their share of disagreements over the years. Trump expressed, “‘Scammer’ Ilhan Omar and all of her extremely horrible friends from Somalia should be in jail right now, or worse, sent back to Somalia.” He also referred to Walz as either “the most corrupt government official in history or the most incompetent official,” adding that even those with low intelligence should have recognized the problems in Minnesota.

Trump has a history of verbally attacking Omar, labeling her a “fraud” and even suggesting she be expelled from the United States. He has accused her of immigration fraud related to her marriage, allegations that she has consistently denied.

After a recent incident where Omar was reportedly drugged at Minneapolis City Hall, Trump insinuated without evidence that she may have staged the event, again calling her a “con artist.”

Omar has responded by saying that every time Trump uses what she describes as “hateful rhetoric,” the number of death threats against her tends to rise. Last month, she labeled Trump a “racist,” “bigot,” “xenophobe,” and “Islamophobe” following his attacks.

Recent investigations have revealed that dozens, particularly Somali-born or Somali-American individuals, have been charged in connection with a large-scale welfare fraud scheme involving food assistance and autism services. Authorities claim the scheme siphoned hundreds of millions from taxpayer-funded programs.

There’s also an ongoing investigation into fraud within the state’s child care system. Tensions between Trump and Walz have escalated since Walz became Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, with Trump frequently linking the governor to the fraud issue and criticizing his leadership.

These exchanges have only intensified as investigations into the fraud continue, and previously, Trump’s remarks about Walz have drawn public backlash, fueling a tense political rivalry.