President Donald Trump asserted that at least $19 billion in public funds is missing in Minnesota due to fraud, largely attributed to individuals from the Somali community, while directly criticizing Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar as “crooked” and claiming she is worth $30 million despite never having had a job.
The comments came during a White House briefing or related public remarks around January 19-20, 2026, where Trump linked the alleged financial losses to broader immigration and enforcement policies.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, Trump stated: “$19 billion, at a minimum, is missing in Minnesota — given to a large degree by Somalians. They’ve taken it… I was told that @IlhanMN is worth $30 million and she’s never had a job. She’s a crooked Congressman.” The remarks, captured in a widely circulated short video clip, appear to be an excerpt from a longer session focused on federal investigations into welfare and nutrition program fraud in the state.
The allegations tie into ongoing federal probes, including cases like the Feeding Our Future scandal and related schemes involving child nutrition, housing and other social services programs since around 2018-2020. Prosecutors have estimated potential losses in the billions, with some reports citing figures up to $18-19 billion across multiple programs, though Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz, have described higher estimates as exaggerated. Many defendants in these cases are of Somali descent, amid Minnesota’s large Somali-American population.
Trump’s reference to Omar’s net worth draws from recent financial disclosure updates for 2025-2026, which reportedly show a significant increase tied to her husband Tim Mynett’s business ventures in consulting and related fields. House Republicans on the Oversight Committee have initiated scrutiny into these disclosures, with some sources alleging connections to broader Minnesota fraud concerns, though no direct charges against Omar have been filed. Omar has denied wrongdoing and criticized the probes as politically motivated distractions from immigration enforcement actions in her state.
Trump has long targeted Omar with sharp criticisms, dating back to her first election to Congress in 2018. These have included repeated promotion of unsubstantiated claims, such as the debunked allegation that she married her brother to fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship or immigration benefits—a rumor originating in fringe online forums around 2016 that has been repeatedly examined and found lacking credible evidence by multiple fact-checkers, investigations and public records reviews. Omar has consistently denied the claim, calling it “absolutely false and ridiculous,” and provided timelines of her marital history, including a faith ceremony marriage in 2002, a legal marriage in 2009, and subsequent divorce. No verifiable proof has substantiated the brother-marriage narrative despite persistent circulation in certain political circles.
The president’s statements coincide with intensified federal activities in Minnesota, including ICE operations targeting undocumented individuals and calls to review citizenship in fraud-related convictions. Trump has used the issue to advocate stricter immigration policies, warning against migration from certain societies and defending aggressive enforcement.
Omar, a Somali-born U.S. representative for Minnesota’s 5th District, has condemned the rhetoric as inflammatory and aimed at sowing division within the Somali-American community. She has argued that federal actions create chaos and unfairly target immigrants while overlooking systemic issues in program oversight.
The controversy highlights persistent debates over welfare program integrity, immigration impacts and political accountability in states with significant refugee populations. Federal authorities continue investigations, with potential implications for funding allocations and enforcement priorities nationwide. No independent verification confirms the exact $19 billion figure as final, and estimates vary across reports from prosecutors, state officials and congressional hearings.
Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.