Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) reacted angrily during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address after he spotlighted massive fraud schemes in Minnesota and announced a new federal “war on fraud.”
“When it comes to the corruption that has been plundering America, there is no more stunning example than what’s been happening in Minnesota,” President Trump said.
The president was referring to a series of high-profile public welfare fraud cases in the state, including Somali-led schemes tied to federal pandemic relief programs.
Feeding Our Future Scandal
The most prominent case is the Feeding Our Future scandal, which began in 2022 and became the largest pandemic-related fraud scheme in U.S. history.
Federal prosecutors charged 78 defendants accused of stealing nearly $250 million from child nutrition programs by falsifying meal claims, creating fake invoices, and using false identities.
To date, 56 individuals have pleaded guilty and seven have been convicted, including founder Aimee Bock.
Separate fraud schemes involving housing assistance, autism services, and Medicare have also resulted in dozens of additional convictions in Minnesota.
Somalia-born Omar appeared to be seething with rage while Trump highlighted the scandal and took aim at those responsible.
“The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption, and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception,” Trump said during his address.
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“Members of the Somali community have pillaged about $19 billion from the American taxpayers,” Trump continued.
“We have all the information.
“The number may be much higher than that.”
“Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the USA,” he added.
The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota
Omar Interrupts
As Trump spoke, Omar shouted from her seat, “That’s a lie,” in response to the president’s remarks about fraud.
She also called the president a “liar” and yelled, “You’ve killed Americans.”
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The comment appeared to be an apparent reference to Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two domestic extremists who were shot and killed while attacking federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
The moment underscored the deep divide between the Trump administration’s enforcement agenda and progressive lawmakers who oppose it.
Administration Expands Anti-Fraud Effort
President Trump announced that Vice President JD Vance would lead the administration’s broader anti-fraud initiative, which will extend beyond Minnesota.
Last month, Vice President Vance announced the creation of a new anti-fraud office within the Justice Department.
He said it would carry the authority of a special counsel and operate directly under White House oversight.
Vance pledged to prosecute “anybody involved” in what he described as a “nationwide fraud ring” rooted in welfare abuse.
During a recent press conference in Minnesota, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent estimated that total fraud losses could exceed $600 billion nationwide.
President Trump framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to restore accountability in federal programs and crack down on what he described as systemic abuse of taxpayer dollars.
As Republicans rally behind the administration’s enforcement push, Tuesday night’s exchange with Omar highlighted the political battle lines forming over immigration, fraud, and federal oversight.
READ MORE – Ilhan Omar Suggests Trump Face Death Penalty: ‘In Somalia They Execute Pedophiles’
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