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By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused immigrants from Somalia of contributing to fraud in Minnesota and singled out Rep. Ilhan Omar in a social media post, as the state grapples with a large-scale welfare scandal.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that “much of the Minnesota fraud” was linked to people who entered the country illegally from Somalia and criticized Omar, a Democrat who represents Minneapolis.
Trump wrote, "Much of the Minnesota Fraud, up to 90%, is caused by people that came into our Country, illegally, from Somalia. 'Congresswoman' Omar, an ungrateful loser who only complains and never contributes, is one of the many scammers. Did she really marry her brother? Lowlifes like this can only be a liability to our Country’s greatness. Send them back from where they came, Somalia, perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
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Why It Matters
Omar has been a focus of Republican criticism lately, with accusations around her immigration status from Trump and attempts to link her with alleged fraud within the Somali community in her state. Federal prosecutors have said more than 60 people have been convicted for fraud in the state thus far, while more than 90 have been charged.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced it will freeze child care funding for Minnesota and require an audit of certain day care centers following recent fraud schemes involving state-run programs. Estimates of the cost to taxpayers have ranged from $250 million to $1 billion, while investigations by state and federal officials remain ongoing.
What To Know
Omar, who is not implicated in any fraud case, is Minnesota’s most prominent Somali American and has long been a target of Trump’s attacks. The congresswoman was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen as a teenager after fleeing civil war with her family. She was the first Somali American elected to Congress and one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the House.
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She responded to Trump’s latest attack with a brief statement on X: “His obsession with me is creepy.”
The exchange follows a long history of inflammatory rhetoric from Trump targeting both Omar and the Somali American community. Omar has previously described his remarks about Somalia and Somali Americans as racist and dehumanizing. Following a Cabinet meeting earlier this month, Trump reportedly said Somali immigrants are “completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota.” He also ended temporary legal protections for Somalis residing in the U.S. weeks earlier.
Trump and several Republican officials seized on the allegations to push a broader immigration crackdown. The White House and the Department of Homeland Security announced they are reviewing the immigration records of Somali Americans convicted of welfare fraud in Minnesota to determine whether they can be denaturalized.
“It’s something the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State is currently looking at right now,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday during an interview on Fox & Friends. “It’s something this administration has already done.”
What to Know about Somalian Fraud Corruption in Minnesota
Federal authorities have spent years investigating widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social programs, much of it involving child nutrition and daycare subsidies. The most prominent case, a $300 million scheme linked to the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, resulted in charges against 92 people—82 of whom are Somali Americans, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Launched under the Biden administration in 2022, the investigation has so far led to 57 convictions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson has estimated the total loss across all fraud cases could exceed $1 billion, including alleged misuse of funds intended to support vulnerable families.
Earlier this month, a federal prosecutor alleged that as much as half of the $18 billion in federal aid sent to Minnesota across 14 programs since 2018 may have been misappropriated. The Trump administration has since launched audits of both daycare centers and the immigration status of those convicted, with officials openly discussing possible denaturalization.
While the cases are real, Minnesota state officials—including Governor Tim Walz—have argued that the issue is being weaponized politically to target immigrant communities. Walz has said an independent audit due in January will provide more clarity on the scope of the fraud.
What People Are Saying
DeVory Darkins, a conservative podcaster, on X: "Omar is no stranger to fraud. Maybe she should go."
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X: “The FBI is aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota. However, even before the public conversation escalated online, the FBI had surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs. Fraud that steals from taxpayers and robs vulnerable children will remain a top FBI priority in Minnesota and nationwide. To date, the FBI dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID. The investigation exposed sham vendors, shell companies, and large-scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network.”
What Happens Next
No wrongdoing has been proven or formal investigations announced.
Update 12/31/25, 1:15 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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