Tim Walz says GOP used Minnesota fraud scandal to demonize immigrants

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shrugged off the fraud scandal in his state in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel’s show on Wednesday, saying it was just an excuse for the GOP to demonize the immigrant community.

“Add to all of this is the sheer number of benefits fraud cases that are occurring,” Kimmel said. “Now I want to ask you: Did it take you an extraordinarily long time to realize this was happening? Is this just something that’s spreading?”

Walz said no, turning it back to President Donald Trump, saying: “This is happening in other states, too. We were going back; a lot of these people had been prosecuted in 2021. He used that as an excuse because it was perfectly fine to say there was fraud. Imagine, coming from this guy, he would know where the fraud was.”

Kimmel later referred to Trump as the “Sigmund Fraud”.

TIM WALZ RESPONDED TO TRUMP’S ‘INCOMPETENCE’ CLAIM, DONATED RESPONSIBILITY FOR FRAUD IN MINNESOTA

“He’s demonizing immigrant communities, especially the Somali community. And I said what he’s doing is the programs in Minnesota, look, we’re a generous state. We’re a paying state, like California. We’re paying more than we get back to support ‘red’ states that don’t support their people. But they’re here to try to destroy those programs and, you know, it’s rich again, destroying the programs of these scam billionaires that don’t help them. But no, it’s a Walz, “Thank goodness the people of Minnesota have the courage “He showed me, stood up and took a step back,” he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

A massive fraud scheme targeting Medicaid, the “Feeding Our Future” program and more has emerged in Minnesota over the past few years, with more accusations making headlines in the past few months.

Federal authorities in Minnesota said in December that the fraud could be worth more than $9 billion, but Walz and other officials disputed that.

BLAGOJEVICH SAYS HE FIGHTED WALZ ‘IF HE HAD NOT DONE’: ‘HE THINKS HIS HANDS ARE CLEAN’

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is sworn in while testifying at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2026. The committee examined allegations of misuse of federal funds for Minnesota social services and Medicaid programs. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Kimmel also asked Walz if the fraud scandal contributed to his decision not to seek re-election.

“No. Two terms is probably enough for me. I think there are enough people who have made a career out of this. Frankly, Minnesota has had a pretty tough year. We wrapped up a legislative session in June of last year — we’re evenly split 67-67 in the House, 35-34 in the Senate — but the most extraordinary politician and person I ever worked with was Melissa Hortman, who was shot and killed in June of last year,” Walz said.

He continued, “He and I were partners in doing this thing and everything. And then the Gospel shooting… and I think it comes down to the point – the fraud thing about this, the Republicans are starting this, they’re putting money into it. It was very important to me that we sit next to a progressive Democrat, which we’re going to do now. And so, a lot of things went into this, and there are other things that I think I could add.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS ON MEDIA AND CULTURE

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz testifies at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2026. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Hortman, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed by a suspect impersonating a police officer in Brooklyn Park in June 2025, according to police.