JD Vance says 'America has a Somali problem' amid Minnesota welfare fraud

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance issued a blunt message on Fox News Wednesday, Jan 7, night about Somali communities in the US.

Appearing on Jesse Watters Primetime, Vance responded after host Jesse Watters framed the issue as a Democrat headache.

“The Democrats have a little bit of a Somali problem,” Watters said.

Vance laughed and said, “America has a bit of a Somali problem.”

“Especially the Democrats in Minnesota,” Watters added. “Why did they just let it happen right under their nose?”

JD Vance explains issues with the welfare system 

Vance laid out what he said were deeply troubling numbers tied to the welfare system. “Well, a couple of things, Jesse. First of all, if you look at the amount of fraud in the welfare system, according to the statistics I have seen, 85% of Somalians who are in the United States, legal and illegal, are collecting some sort of welfare benefits," he began.

"So that’s not to disparage the other 15%, but when you’ve got 85% of the population that is collecting welfare, that suggests that we have really done something wrong with regards to vetting, and that’s the fundamental issue," he explained.

Vance said that even without outright fraud, the numbers alone were unacceptable. “Even if there’s no fraud, 85% collecting welfare is way too many damn people collecting welfare, getting rich off the American taxpayer, while a lot of Americans struggle. That’s unacceptable," he insisted.

The vice president argued that what’s playing out in Minneapolis isn’t isolated. “What’s going on in Minneapolis, I think, is actually representative of a broader fraud scheme that we are going to see all over the country – we’re going to see it in California, we’re going to see it in other places too – where people get rich from the American taxpayer. The Somalian fraud, for example. Day care fraud," he said.

Vance explained how fraud in childcare programs is affecting working Americans.

“You’ve got Americans, we’ve got programs set up to make it easier for Americans to get their kids in day care, so they can have proper child care. You take that money, and you siphon it off to Somalian fraudsters; that’s a double theft," he said. "Number one, that means a lot of American families can’t afford their child care. Number two, it means a lot of American taxpayers are being fleeced. It’s totally unacceptable.”

Vance then hinted that the administration is preparing to act.

“I believe, Jesse, we’re going to have some very big announcements on this stuff in the next couple of days. I don’t want to get ahead of the president on anything, but we believe that there is a nationwide fraud ring that’s rooted in illegal aliens and others taking advantage of the American welfare system. We’re going to get to the root of it, and anybody who’s involved is gonna get prosecuted," he promised.

Trump turns up the heat

President Donald Trump has already gone on the offensive, blasting the Somali population following allegations of mass fraud in Minnesota last month.

“Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars. Billions. Every year, billions of dollars,” Trump said. “And they contribute nothing. The welfare’s like 88%. They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you.”

He added, “Some will say that’s not ‘politically correct.’ I don’t care. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks, and we don’t want them in our country.”