Rep. Ilhan Omar appeared seething during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech after he announced a new “war on fraud.”
Fraud claims and high-profile cases
“When it comes to the corruption that has been plundering America, there is no more stunning example than what’s been happening in Minnesota,” the president declared.
He was speaking in reference to public welfare fraud in Minnesota, much of which has been perpetrated by the state’s Somali community, which is the largest in the nation.
The most prominent example is the Feeding Our Future scandal that began in 2022 and is described as the largest COVID-19-related fraud scheme in the U.S.
The case involved 78 defendants accused of stealing nearly $250 million from federal child nutrition programs by falsifying meal claims, creating phony invoices, and using fake names.
To date, 56 individuals have pleaded guilty, and seven have been convicted, including founder Aimee Bock.
Additional scams relating to housing, autism, and medicare fraud have resulted in dozens of additional convictions in Minnesota.
“Members of the Somali community have pillaged about $19 billion from the American taxpayers. We have all the information. The number may be much higher than that,” the president said during Wednesday’s address.
“Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the USA,” he went on to say as Rep. Omar shouted back “that’s a lie” in response to the fraud claims that have been verified through dozens of court cases.
Omar also called Trump a “liar” from her seat and shouted “You’ve killed Americans,” apparently in reference to Renee Good and Alex Pretti — two domestic terrorists who were shot and killed while attacking federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
“The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota”
*cuts to Ilhan Omar* pic.twitter.com/OtZSwO6JvA
— homans top guy (@passcoderonald) February 25, 2026
Trump added that Vice President Vance would be leading the administration’s “war on fraud,” which will not be contained to just Minnesota.
When announcing a new anti-fraud office within the Justice Department last month, Vice President Vance described it as having the authority of a special counsel and said it would operate directly under oversight from the White House and Trump administration.
He emphasized prosecuting “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 top $600 billion nationwide.
