President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Tim Walz, the Democratic Governor of Minnesota, referring to him as “retarded” in light of a welfare fraud scandal involving the Somali community in the state. In a post on Truth Social dated November 27, 2024, Trump claimed Walz is “seriously retarded” for allegedly failing to prevent the misuse of taxpayer funds, which he contends are being funneled to the Islamic extremist group Al-Shabaab.
Trump reiterated his remarks during a flight on Air Force One, stating, “I think there’s something wrong with him, absolutely.” He expressed frustration over what he perceives as Walz’s inaction regarding the situation, which he believes involves significant financial mismanagement. “You know what? I think there’s something wrong with him. Anyone that would allow those people into his state and pay billions of dollars out to Somalia… Yeah, there’s something wrong with Walz,” he added.
The controversy stems from allegations that Somali individuals in Minnesota have redirected substantial amounts of money—described as “untold millions”—to Al-Shabaab, a group responsible for numerous attacks, including those that have resulted in the deaths of at least 11 Americans in East Africa.
In a related action, Trump announced plans to terminate the federal government’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 80,000 Somalians residing in Minnesota. He claimed that Walz has turned the state into “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” and accused Somali gangs of terrorizing the local population. Trump’s statement emphasized the financial losses, asserting that “BILLIONS of dollars are missing” and concluded with a call to “send them back to where they came from.”
Minnesota officials have also placed blame on Walz for what they describe as a “cascade of systemic failures” that contributed to the welfare fraud scandal. According to statistics from Minnesota Compass, the state is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, estimated at around 79,000 individuals as of 2023.
This situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration and welfare policies in the United States, particularly as they relate to specific communities. Both state and federal responses continue to evolve, as officials assess the implications of these allegations and the broader impact on Minnesota’s Somali population.