The Trump administration directly criticized Minnesota leadership for encouraging protests and harassment against federal authorities, framing the actions of local officials as contributing to chaos and obstructing federal investigations. White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt said the president is focused on what he describes as “widespread massive fraud” in the state, and she placed responsibility squarely on Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis city officials. “What the president is referring to is the fact that you have Governor Walz and, again, the mayor, who have been encouraging these left-wing agitators to come out and harass, doxx, and threaten ICE, and to make this conversation about smearing lies about federal law enforcement, who are just trying to do their jobs, in an attempt to distract from the widespread massive fraud that has taken place in their state. Billions and billions of dollars have been stolen from law-abiding taxpayers in Minnesota. The administration continues to be very focused on getting to the bottom of it,” Leavitt said.

Reporter: The President posted this is a coverup of the fraud. He also posted Minnesota is coverup. What is the coverup?

Leavitt: They are encouraging left-wing agitators to harass ICE and to smear lies about law enforcement in an attempt to distract from the widespread fraud pic.twitter.com/KWFelH7fjX

— Acyn (@Acyn) January 26, 2026

The remarks come in the wake of a shooting Saturday in Minneapolis in which U.S. immigration agents killed a man during an enforcement operation, sparking widespread protests and heightened tensions between federal and local authorities. Federal officials said the agent acted in self-defense after a man approached with a handgun and resisted attempts to disarm him. Bystander videos appeared to show the man, identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, holding a phone rather than a weapon while moving between protesters and federal agents. The incident drew hundreds of demonstrators to the streets of Minneapolis and prompted protests in New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. Local officials, including Governor Walz, questioned the federal account and blocked local investigators from participating, further escalating tensions.

Leavitt connected the unrest to what the administration characterizes as a deliberate effort by state and city leadership to shift attention away from alleged fraud schemes. She said the president had previously posted statements claiming Minnesota is attempting to cover up these illegal activities, calling it “Minnesota is a cover-up,” and noted that these posts followed the shooting incident. She described the alleged actions of local leaders as enabling harassment and threatening behavior toward federal law enforcement officers, creating a climate of chaos in the state.

Leavitt also reiterated the president’s questions regarding Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s financial gains, noting that she now has a net worth in the millions. “One must ask themselves why and how that is possible. Is she connected to the fraud rings that we have seen taking place within her state and her own district? It’s a question the American people are raising, and the president believes it’s one worth answering,” she said.

The administration’s comments frame the events in Minnesota as part of a broader concern over accountability, alleging that local leadership’s encouragement of protests and obstruction of federal investigations has allowed both civil unrest and alleged financial misconduct to continue.