President Donald Trump delivered a forceful message during remarks on the unfolding Minnesota welfare fraud scandal, calling the case one of the most embarrassing failures of state oversight in recent history and demanding sweeping federal action. His comments followed explosive findings that more than $1 billion in meals, housing, and autism-aid funds were siphoned off through fraudulent programs operating in Minnesota.

According to investigators, dozens of individuals have been charged across multiple schemes uncovered in late November 2025. Federal records show that 86 defendants were identified in the primary meal and housing fraud network alone—with 78 of them tied to the same community-based operations. Trump made clear that his criticism was aimed not at law-abiding immigrants but at individuals who exploited public systems and the state’s leadership that allowed it to happen.

The former administration’s stance on the scandal is rooted in accountability and the protection of taxpayer dollars. Trump sharply criticized Minnesota’s leadership, including Governor Tim Walz, blasting what he described as a “catastrophic collapse of oversight” across the state’s social services infrastructure. Federal investigators have since opened a broader probe into how state agencies approved and monitored hundreds of millions in public funds.

Trump argued that the scandal represents a deeper failure of immigration enforcement, vetting, and integration policy. “We are not going to tolerate people coming into our country—regardless of where they’re from—and exploiting our systems,” he said, emphasizing that offenders found guilty should face the full consequences of the law, including deportation for non-citizens.

He also stressed that the vast majority of legal immigrants contribute positively to the nation, but that the U.S. must draw a firm line against criminal networks that abuse federal programs. The president framed the Minnesota case as evidence of what happens when political correctness and weak enforcement override basic accountability.

Trump reiterated his administration’s commitment to strict fraud prevention, enhanced federal-state cooperation, and tougher penalties for public-benefit abuse. He called for mandatory national audits, strengthened eligibility verification, and immediate suspension of state-administered federal programs that fail compliance checks.

“What happened in Minnesota is a warning,” Trump said. “This is why we need strong borders, strong vetting, and leadership that will not look the other way. The American people deserve protection from corruption—no exceptions.”

The administration is preparing additional measures aimed at preventing similar large-scale scams and ensuring that taxpayer-funded programs serve those who genuinely need them—not criminal operations hiding behind nonprofit fronts.