Trump blasts Minnesota 'Somali pirates' in SOTU, appoints JD Vance to lead 'war on fraud'

Trump appoints Vice President JD Vance to lead new task force targeting widespread fraud in Minnesota
PUBLISHED FEB 25, 2026
President Trump cited 'Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota' to announce a new federal task force led by JD Vance aimed at recovering billions in taxpayer funds
President Trump cited 'Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota' to announce a new federal task force led by JD Vance aimed at recovering billions in taxpayer funds


WASHINGTON, DC: President Trump intensified his criticism of Minnesota’s Somali community during his State of the Union address, labeling participants in local welfare scandals as 'Somali pirates' who have 'ransacked' the state. 

To combat the corruption, Trump officially appointed Vice President JD Vance to lead a federal task force known as the 'war on fraud.'

Trump says Somali pirates ransacked Minnesota

During his speech, President Trump connected these fraud allegations to his broader stance on immigration and border security, suggesting that these issues are the result of open borders. 

He remarked, “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.”

He further linked the situation to the daily costs faced by citizens, stating, “Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the USA. And it is the American people who pay the price in higher medical bills, car insurance rates, rent, taxes, and perhaps most importantly, crime. We will take care of this problem. We're going to take care of this problem. We are not playing games.”

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran. (Photo by Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)

Trump alleges $19 billion pillaged from taxpayers in Minnesota

The President specifically targeted Minnesota as the epicenter of a massive pillaging of taxpayer funds, citing figures that far exceed previous estimates. 

“When it comes to the corruption that is plundering it, really, it's plundering America, there's been no more stunning example than Minnesota, where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer,” Trump said. 

He suggested the true scale of the fraud is 'much higher' and alleged that states like California, Massachusetts, and Maine are facing even more severe corruption that 'shreds the fabric of a nation.'



Vance to lead ‘War on Fraud’ in Minnesota

To fight the crackdown, Trump announced that Vice President JD Vance will lead a new task force dedicated to stopping fraud.

“So tonight, although we started four months ago, I am officially announcing the war on fraud to be led by our great Vice President JD Vance,” the President declared. 

“He'll get it done,” the President added. “And if we're able to find enough of that fraud, we will actually have a balanced budget overnight. It'll go very quickly. That's the kind of money you're talking about. We'll balance our budget.”

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