In a New Year’s Eve address at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump attacked Minnesota’s fraud controversy, saying there is an $18 billion fraud in social services and calling the alleged scheme a ‘giant scam’ that he would get to the bottom of. Trump referenced Rep. Tom Emmer and discussed Minnesota’s Somali community as part of the accusations, while aides noted that Gov. Tim Walz is facing scrutiny over the case.
The broader context includes federal investigations and action from the administration, including a decision by the Department of Health and Human Services to freeze Minnesota child-care payments as fraud probes proceed. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said those involved could end up in handcuffs.
The remarks illustrate Trump’s tactic of exploiting fraud allegations to energize his base and cast opponents as corrupt, even as Minnesota authorities warn of ongoing investigations and accountability from the state.