President Trump railed against the fraud schemes in Minnesota involving Somali residents during his New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago.
“Can you imagine they stole $18 billion?” Mr. Trump said. “That’s just what we’re learning about. That’s peanuts. And California is worse, Illinois is worse and, sadly, New York is worse.”
“We’re going to get to the bottom of all of it,” the president said. “It was a giant scam.”
Mr. Trump, who gave brief remarks during his party, said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Minnesota Republican, was talking about the Somali-Americans involved in the schemes earlier on television.
“He was talking about the Somalian population and not very nicely. He was not nice, but that’s OK,” the president said.
Minnesota has been hit with widespread fraud allegations, some of which date back several years and may have cost taxpayers billions of dollars, according to federal prosecutors.
Some 92 people have been arrested for their involvement in the schemes, and Somali Americans make up over 80 of them.
“Other than that, we’re going to have a great new year,” he said. “We’re going to get to the bottom and we’re going to get that money back.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the administration is weighing denaturalization for the Somali-Americans involved.
“We’re also not afraid to use denaturalization,” Ms. Leavitt said on “Fox & Friends.” “That’s a tool at the president and the secretary of state’s disposal. And it’s one this administration has previously used before.”
Mr. Emmer said on social media earlier this week that he was calling for the denaturalization and deportation of every Somali involved.
“I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against American taxpayers: Send them home. If they’re here illegally, deport them immediately; if they’re naturalized citizens, revoke their citizenship and deport them quickly thereafter,” he posted.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was former Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 election, has come under fire for not knowing about the fraud.
“People will be in handcuffs as a result of the fraud that Governor Walz has allowed to occur for the — for many, many years,” Ms. Leavitt said.
“President Trump is not going to let Governor Walz off the hook,” she said.
Moves have been made to stamp out the alleged fraud and hold people accountable. The administration announced earlier this week that it will freeze all child care payments to the state.
Vice President J.D. Vance has also warned that the administration will take out even more actions.
