Trump Accuses Walz and Omar of Fueling Anti-ICE Protests to Distract From Massive Minnesota Fraud
President Donald J. Trump, the current President of the United States, accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar on Sunday of encouraging protests against federal immigration enforcement in order to divert attention from what he described as widespread fraud tied to state-run programs.
In a series of posts on social media, President Trump argued that demonstrations opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the Twin Cities are being amplified by Democratic officials to shift public focus away from ongoing and past fraud investigations in Minnesota.
“ICE is removing some of the most violent criminals in the World from our Country, and bring them back home, where they belong. Why is Minnesota fighting this? Do they really want murderers and drug dealers to be ensconced in their community? The thugs that are protesting include many highly paid professional agitators and anarchists. Is this really what Minnesota wants?” Trump wrote.
He followed with a sharper accusation aimed directly at state leadership and Rep. Omar:
“The crooked Governor and ‘Congresswoman’ Omar, who married her brother, don’t mind because it keeps the focus of attention off the 18 Billion Dollar, Plus, FRAUD, that has taken place in the State! Don’t worry, we’re on it!”
In a separate post, President Trump escalated his criticism:
“There is 19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud. Fake ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!”
The president defended recent ICE enforcement actions in Minnesota, reiterating that federal agents are focused on violent offenders who pose a direct threat to public safety. He accused Democratic officials and activists of undermining law enforcement by portraying the protests as organic community outrage, while characterizing them instead as organized agitation.
Minnesota has been the site of multiple high-profile fraud cases in recent years involving the misuse of taxpayer funds, including federal nutrition and welfare programs. Several individuals have already been convicted or charged, and additional investigations remain ongoing. State officials have acknowledged failures in oversight and have claimed reforms were enacted following public exposure of the schemes.
Walz has been among the most vocal critics of the ICE operations, particularly after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good earlier this month during an ICE-related enforcement action in Minneapolis. He has demanded transparency and accountability while questioning the scale and conduct of the federal response.
Rep. Omar has also condemned the enforcement actions, arguing they have created fear in immigrant communities and raised civil-rights concerns. She has defended the protests as legitimate expressions of public dissent and has called for independent reviews of ICE activity.
As demonstrations continue, the political clash over immigration enforcement and public safety has intensified. Federal officials, however, are warning that some of the rhetoric from local leaders may cross a legal line.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Fox News that the anti-ICE messaging from Minnesota officials is approaching criminal territory.
“When the governor or the mayor threaten our officers, when the mayor suggests that he’s encouraging citizens to call 911 when they see ICE officers, that is very close to a federal crime,” Blanche said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi reinforced that warning on X, writing, “A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.”
Walz responded by accusing the Trump administration of abusing federal power.
“Two days ago, it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly,” Walz wrote in an X post. “Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.”
Notably, Walz raised no such objections when the Biden Justice Department — alongside Democratic prosecutors across the country — pursued investigations and prosecutions against Donald Trump.