JD Vance to Head Fight Against Fraud

Trump Announces Fight Against Fraud

In his State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, President Donald Trump officially kicked off a campaign against fraud, placing Vice President J.D. Vance in charge.

Trump remarked, “But when it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there’s no more astonishing example than Minnesota. Members of the Somali community have, I think, plundered an estimated $19 billion from American taxpayers. We have all the information, but I believe the numbers might actually be much higher. California, Massachusetts, Maine, and other states are even worse. This type of corruption, really, it can tear the fabric of a nation apart.”

He continued, “Tonight, I’m officially launching my fight against cheating, which began about four months ago. Our Vice President, J.D. Vance, will lead this battle. Trust me; we’ll get this done. You’ll see a balanced budget overnight. It can happen quickly. It’s a lot of money we’re talking about.”

Trump also noted that in many parts of the world, various practices are normalized. He argued that by by opening our borders to unrestricted immigration, we create issues right here in the United States. High costs—medical bills, car insurance, rent, taxes—and crime, all burden American citizens. “We need to address this issue,” he emphasized.

The president’s remarks came in light of ongoing investigations into fraud scandals in Minnesota, particularly the Feeding Our Future scandal involving nearly $9 billion in taxpayer funds, around $250 million of which was linked to the Feeding Our Future program. As reported by Breitbart News on February 12, 2026, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) stated that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) faced charges for allegedly meeting with Somali fraudsters and accepting campaign contributions in exchange for help in investigating the matter. As of December last year, 85 individuals had been charged, with 60 convictions related to the scandal.

On February 10, Breitbart News covered testimony from former diplomat Simon Hankinson before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He claimed that Somali nationals frequently lied on immigration applications to obtain visas for the U.S. He stated that visa fraud and welfare fraud are interlinked. Applicants often misrepresent their age, name, identity, marital status, occupation, purpose of travel, financial status, and relatives in the U.S., as well as their intent to return.

In a related effort, Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX) introduced a bill earlier this month that temporarily halts immigration from Somalia for a period of 25 years. He cited issues with assimilation and misuse of federal welfare programs as main reasons. The bill is meant to amend Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, echoing President Trump’s Proclamation 10998, which restricts immigration relief for certain Somali nationals while maintaining their existing legal status and U.S. treaty obligations. Earlier in January, the Trump administration initiated steps to end Temporary Protected Status for many Somalis, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stating that Somalia would no longer qualify, asserting the decision aligns with national interests.