Internet, political backlash after Walz tries to take credit for FBI fraud raids in Minnesota

by Deported.news Staff | May 02, 2026

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz took gaslighting to the next level on Tuesday as federal agents raided 22 sites tied to ongoing fraud investigations.

The governor tried to take credit for exposing fraud in his state as federal agents executed the court-approved search warrants at offices and daycares in the Twin Cities.

“Come again?” FBI Director Kash Patel fired back on X in response to Walz, who claimed that Tuesday’s raids happened because Minnesota state agencies “caught irregular behavior and reported it.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security surged federal investigators to the state to dig into the fraud allegations months ago, and they remained there even as “Operation Metro Surge” wound down.

The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations conducted raids across Minneapolis on Tuesday—perfectly timed to coincide with Walz’s final State of the State address.

“This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today,” Patel continued. “But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship.”

Federal investigators said they were focused on child care and autism centers suspected of fraud in the Twin Cities. Many of the buildings and businesses are tied to the Somali-American community, sources told The New York Post.

Both local and national news outlets captured video of federal agents carrying out boxes from the businesses and daycares. The raids are part of an alleged multi-billion-dollar social services fraud scheme that spiraled into “layers and layers” of fraud under Walz’s watch.

Minnesota news stations have reported on the fraud allegations for years, but a viral video released in late December by YouTuber Nick Shirley showcased the obvious red flags to a national audience, which caught the attention of the feds.

In February, Shirley did a follow-up video with Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill, who said Minnesota officials were fighting HHS to delay releasing information tied to the fraud investigations.

The federal government funnels money to the states for Medicaid and other social service programs, and the feds have limited say or controls to stop fraud once the money is released, O’Neill told Shirley.

The sites raided Tuesday have been linked to fraudulent state services, including allegations of operating daycares with no children present, phony transportation companies, and providers submitting false claims for reimbursement.

But in a thread on X on Tuesday, Walz said he was putting criminals “on notice.” He portrayed the raids as being initiated by the state, saying the FBI was working with state officials.

“If you commit fraud in Minnesota you’re going to get caught — and that’s exactly what we saw today. We catch criminals when state and federal agencies share information. Joint investigations work, and securing justice depends on it,” Walz wrote in another post.

However, the City of Minneapolis’ official X account made a post that appeared to contradict Walz, sharing that “The City of Minneapolis is not involved in the federal operations being reported around Minnesota today.”

Vice President JD Vance also made his rounds on the news and tweeted about the raids. He serves as Chairman of the White House’s newly created Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and told Fox News host Will Cain that Walz deserves no credit for the fraud crackdown.

“We are working around the clock to root out fraudsters who have taken advantage of Americans’ generosity for far too long,” Vance wrote on X with a clip from the interview.

The newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also slammed Walz for his failures in his own scathing social media post. Mullin shared Walz’s X post and said he has “zero credibility” on fraud after federal raids in the Twin Cities.

“@GovTimWalz, you have willingly ignored and downplayed the rampant fraud and abuse in Minnesota. This crackdown on fraud has come thanks to the leadership of President Trump. We will hold those who steal from Americans accountable,” Mullin wrote.

Agents used a battering ram to enter at least one of the daycare centers, Metro Learning Center, according to KTSP.

Another target included the Quality Learning Center, a Minneapolis daycare located behind a restaurant that has ties to Somali-born U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and “Squad” member.

The center became infamous for its misspelled sign, Quality Learing Center, and collected a staggering 95 violations from the state human services agency between 2019 and 2023, according to St. Paul’s ABC affiliate.

Despite Walz’s claims that he tried to bust the fraudsters, the reality is whistleblowers working for Minnesota Department of Human Services reported it for years, but state officials failed to do anything about it—and retaliated against those who tried to blow the whistle.

“The same guy who spent a whole hearing dodging questions about $9 BILLION in fraud in Minnesota and talking about ICE instead is now praising fraud control,” the Republican-led House Oversight Committee posted on X. “We will pass legislation in the Committee to make sure it never happens again. Sit this one out, Tim.”

Even Trump critic, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, chimed in on X. “Well, the American people know we can actually thank @nickshirleyy and @VP.”

The massive fraud has been called an “open secret” in the state. Many of the centers accused of abusing Minnesota’s generous social services programs are operated by members of the Somali community.

Minnesota residents, GOP lawmakers and local reporters believe the fraud persisted for years because the Somali community threatened local and state officials with allegations of discrimination as well as their voting power.

Local news organizations such KSTP 5 News also knocked on the doors of daycares and created its own special “What the Fraud?”

Minnesota-based Alpha News even created a fraud page. Reporter Liz Collin has updated Fox News on the fraud investigations and appeared on “America’s Newsroom” after news of the raids broke early Tuesday.

“I can’t tell you how many stories we’ve done — local media too — with whistleblowers who went straight to Walz’s office saying ‘You need to take this widespread fraud seriously,’” Collin said. “Not only did they not return calls or emails… they faced retribution. Demoted. Demoralized. Some even left the state. And now he’s trying to take credit?”

The examples of the state’s resistance to fight fraud are endless. In early March, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and MDHS filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for illegally withholding $243 million in Medicaid payments.

The feds pulled the funding in light of the massive fraud allegations and claims of Minnesota’s “noncompliance” with Medicaid regulations.

Around the same time, MDHS officials skipped a key hearing held by a state House fraud prevention panel. House Fraud Prevention Committee Chair Kristin Robbins said she was “incredibly frustrated that they ghosted us,” Fox News Digital reported.

Robbins, a suburban Minneapolis Republican who is also running for governor, previously said state leaders “knew this was going on and they allowed it to continue.”

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