Trump Nominates Colin McDonald as First Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement
On January 28, 2026, President Donald Trump announced the nomination of federal prosecutor Colin McDonald for a newly established position as the first attorney general for national fraud enforcement.
Trump shared the news in a post on Truth Social, noting that this new attorney general would manage a specialized division within the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“I am pleased to nominate Colin McDonald to serve as the first ever Assistant Attorney General for National FRAUD Enforcement, a new Division at the Department of Justice, which I created to catch and stop FRAUDSTERS that have been STEALING from the American People,” Trump stated. He mentioned that his administration had uncovered significant fraud schemes in states such as Minnesota and California, where criminals had allegedly stolen hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars.
Recent investigations revealed substantial fraud in Minnesota and California, where businesses falsely represented themselves as social welfare providers to acquire government funds without delivering the promised services. One notable example is the “Quality Learning Center,” which faced scrutiny after footage exposed it as a vacant facility despite receiving hefty reimbursements from Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program.
Trump expressed confidence in McDonald, praising his intellect and experience.
“Colin McDonald is a very Smart, Tough, and Highly Respected AMERICA FIRST Federal Prosecutor who has successfully delivered Justice in some of the most difficult and high stakes cases our Country has ever seen,” he remarked. “Together, we will END THE FRAUD, and RESTORE INTEGRITY to our Federal Programs.”
“Congratulations Colin — STOP THE SCAMS!” he added.
McDonald has previously worked alongside Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche, who later posted a commendation on social media in response to the nomination.
“Colin is a rockstar, who was instrumental in our team’s mission of Making America Safe Again,” Blanche stated. “He is a consummate prosecutor who loves God, family, and country and will serve the President and the American people well.”
From 2014 to 2025, McDonald served as a federal prosecutor in Southern California and Hawaii. In 2020, he played a crucial role in securing convictions in a major scandal involving Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and others, who were implicated in framing an innocent man to conceal their theft of $148,000 from an elderly relative.
Vice President JD Vance introduced the new position in a recent White House press briefing, citing reports of widespread fraud in specific states.
“Colin McDonald is widely regarded as a thorough and highly competent attorney. He has an exceptional prosecutorial track record, which we look forward to seeing him put to use in his new role as Assistant Attorney General,” Vance remarked.
