Trump calls Minneapolis food stamp fraud 'giant Democrat scam'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump sharply accused certain Minneapolis food-stamp retailers of widespread fraud in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, January 14, attacking both the businesses and political opponents. 

Trump characterized the situation as a massive scam and tied it to broader concerns about immigration and government oversight. His comments coincided with broader federal plans to tackle fraud in federally funded programs.

Donald Trump’s accuses Minneapolis of food stamp fraud

In the post, Trump accused retailers in Minneapolis that accept food stamps of engaging in “widespread fraud,” asserting that these businesses did not provide basic services such as food, cleanliness, or proper service and instead were focused on defrauding taxpayers.

He wrote, “Does anybody believe that in Minneapolis, these are the Food Stamp Businesses? … except FRAUD.” Trump further claimed these businesses were receiving “Millions of Dollars of Taxpayer Money,” mocked Americans as "STUPID", and said accountability would soon arrive.

Trump extended his criticism beyond Minnesota, saying that the alleged fraud problem was not isolated but also present in other states such as California, Illinois, and New York, calling the situation there “equally as bad.” 

He linked the issue to immigration, stating that those responsible for alleged fraud “should be sent back to Somalia, or any other Country from where they came.”

Trump framed these issues as politically driven by Democrats, labeling the situation “a giant Democrat SCAM” and asserting that the “Fake News Media” was protecting those involved. He concluded his post by saying the system “will end, as we, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump has consistently argued that weak enforcement policies, along with illegal immigration and progressive local governance, have contributed to extensive fraud within federal assistance programs.

New DOJ division and SNAP fraud enforcement

The post came just days after the White House announced plans to create a Department of Justice Division for National Fraud Enforcement, aimed at investigating and prosecuting fraud affecting federal programs and federally funded benefits nationwide. 

This new division will be headed by a presidentially appointed assistant attorney general tasked with setting national fraud-enforcement priorities and coordinating efforts with US attorney’s offices and federal agencies to identify and dismantle complex fraud schemes.

The program at the center of the controversy, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps, is administered by individual states but overseen by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

While the USDA is responsible for approving retailers and investigating fraud, the administration of benefits and day-to-day operations fall under state purview.

Federal authorities have pursued criminal cases in several states related to trafficking SNAP benefits and false reimbursement claims; however, Trump did not cite any specific investigation in his Truth Social post.