Walz fires back at Trump as he faces question on Minnesota fraud scheme

Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., fired again at President Donald Trump throughout an look on “Meet the Press” on Sunday when host Kristen Welker requested if he would take “accountability” for failing to cease fraud in his state.

The Ministry of Justice new charges announced final week towards the 78th defendant within the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, which prosecutors say concerned greater than $250 million in stolen cash from a federally funded baby vitamin program and has resulted in additional than 50 convictions. Lots of these charged are from Minnesota’s Somali neighborhood.

In a Reality Social put up on Thanksgiving, Trump attacked Walz, calling the president “severely r——d,” and accused him of doing nothing “both out of worry or incompetence.” The president stated within the put up: “A whole lot of 1000’s of refugees from Somalia are fully taking up the as soon as nice state of Minnesota. Somali gangs roam the streets in search of ‘prey’ whereas our nice folks stay locked of their flats and houses, hoping towards hope that they are going to be left alone.”

“Nicely, actually I take accountability for placing folks in jail. Governors cannot simply speak theoretically. We’ve got to resolve issues and I observe that it isn’t simply Somalis. Minnesota is a beneficiant state, Minnesota is a affluent state, a well-run state, we’ve a AAA bond score, however that draws criminals. These folks go to jail and we do every little thing we are able to, however to demonize a whole neighborhood based mostly on the actions of some, it is lazy,” Walz stated.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks on the California Democratic Conference on the Anaheim Conference Middle on Saturday, Could 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Occasions by way of Getty Photos)

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MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ACCUSE WALZ OF ‘MASSIVE FRAUD’ AGAINST MOVEMENTS AGAINST SOMALIA COMMUNITY

Trump stated in a Nov. 21 Reality Social put up that he would finish Short-term Protected Standing for Somalis in Minnesota, citing “fraudulent cash laundering actions.” ‘Ship them again to the place they got here from. It is over!’ he wrote.

Walz accused Trump of chopping applications that would assist Minnesota handle this.

“We’re, we’re taking it on and placing folks in jail. I do not care what your nationality is, I do not care who your faith is, the colour of your pores and skin, whether or not you commit crimes. These had been applications designed to assist college students with autism, present housing, and ensure folks had sufficient to eat. There is a purpose why Minnesota ranks because the lowest in baby poverty, one of the best place for youngsters to reside. That is separate from demonizing a whole group of people that got here right here got here to flee the Civil Warfare and created a vibrant neighborhood that makes Minnesota and this nation higher,” Walz continued.

He insisted that Trump wouldn’t remedy any fraud. Earlier within the dialogue, Walz was requested to answer the president’s Reality Social put up.

“Look, insulting Donald Trump is a badge of honor for me, however I believe everyone knows that utilizing that time period, each as an educator for a number of a long time and as a guardian, is so dangerous. It is hurtful,” he stated, referring to Trump’s use of the r-word. “We have been preventing for 30 years to get this out of our faculties, youngsters know higher than to make use of it. Look, that is what Donald Trump has performed. He is normalized this type of hateful habits and this type of language, and to begin with I believe it is simply because he is not an excellent particular person, however second of all it is to distract from his incompetence.”

President Donald Trump speaks throughout a breakfast with Senate and Home of Representatives Republicans within the State Eating Room of the White Home, Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Evan Vucci/AP Picture)

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WALZ RIPPED FOR ‘VILE’ COMMENTS ON FUTURE ‘NEWS’ ABOUT TRUMP’S HEALTH: ‘WHAT A MONSTER’

The New York Occasions reported that what initially appeared like an remoted case of pandemic-era fraud to many Minnesotans has became a much wider concern for state and federal officers.

The New York Times reports this Saturday that regulation enforcement authorities say a number of fraud schemes have unfold in elements of Minnesota’s Somali neighborhood over the previous 5 years. A lot of people are stated to have created firms that billed state companies for thousands and thousands of {dollars} in social providers that had been by no means delivered.

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Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., walks close to the Minnesota state capital in St. Paul on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (Abbie Parr/AP Picture)

Walz spoke at a information convention final week in regards to the fraud, saying it “undermines belief in authorities” and “undermines applications which are completely crucial to enhancing the standard of life.”

“When you commit fraud, regardless of the place you come from, what you appear like, what you consider, you are going to jail,” Walz stated.

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Fox Information’ Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.