As President Donald Trump is known to do, he veered off script.
While addressing farmers on the South Lawn of the White House Friday, Trump paused his prepared remarks and zeroed in on a familiar political target: Minnesota’s leadership and widespread fraud.
“What’s going on in Minnesota with that crazy governor? That crooked, corrupt governor?” Trump said. “How about the attorney general, you think he’s a dirty cop?”
The president then turned his focus to the nation of Somalia.
“We’ll get Minnesota back. We’ll take it back from Somalia,” Trump said, describing Somalia as “the worst country in the world.”
President Trump: "Did I hear Minnesota? How is Minnesota doing? What's going on in Minnesota with that crazy governor? That crooked, corrupt governor? How about the attorney general, you think he's a dirty cop? We'll get Minnesota back. We'll take it back from Somalia." pic.twitter.com/CAFzwQiald
— Alpha News (@AlphaNews) March 27, 2026
“They come over here and they steal $19 billion,” the president said.
Linking the issue to his administration’s broader agenda, Trump pointed to a new federal push targeting fraud in government programs.
“You know, if we straightened out half of the fraud that took place in this country over the years, we’d have not only a balanced budget, we’d have a big surplus,” Trump said. “And we’re going to get it done.”
White House launches new fraud task force
The comments came the same day Vice President JD Vance chaired the first meeting of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, an initiative focused on reducing waste in federal programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Administration officials, including Stephen Miller, voiced frustration with Minnesota’s handling of benefits, particularly SNAP.
Miller said the White House has been unable to obtain a full list of SNAP recipients in Minnesota and criticized Democratic-led states for operating programs “entirely on the honor system.”
WATCH: Stephen Miller at the first meeting of President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud:
"Imagine a native Minnesotan who works as a lineman who's worried about his ability to support and provide for his family.
"Then imagine he has a neighbor who's a Somali refugee who… pic.twitter.com/HK1FPloi1j
— Alpha News (@AlphaNews) March 27, 2026
“No verification takes place before individuals are enrolled in or receive these benefits,” Miller said of federal aid programs in states run by Democrat leaders.
Vance said safeguards were weakened under the Biden administration and pledged stronger coordination across federal agencies.
“We’re going to stop allowing fraudsters to steal the American people’s money,” Vance said.
Federal officials target entitlement fraud
Andrew Ferguson, who is co-leading the task force, said the group will develop a national strategy to combat fraud across SNAP, Medicare and Medicaid, while assisting the Justice Department in prosecutions.
“We will restore the social trust that has been lost because of mismanagement and fraud,” Ferguson said.
As Alpha News previously reported, federal investigators have uncovered widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs, with federal prosecutors estimating that half or more of roughly $18 billion in federal funds disbursed through 14 state-run programs since 2018 may have been stolen.
Read Alpha News’ ongoing coverage of fraud in Minnesota
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
