U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar raised eyebrows for her response to a question on CNN about Somali immigrants defrauding Minnesota taxpayers.
CNN host Jake Tapper asked the Minnesota Democrat if she could “shed any light” on how taxpayers in her state have reportedly been robbed of billions of dollars in a massive COVID fraud scandal that involves a network of Somali groups.
“Can you shed any light on why the fraud got so out of control in Minnesota?” Tapper asked on “The Lead” in what many saw as a surprising moment of actual journalism.
🚨🇺🇸 JAKE TAPPER ASKS OMAR WHY MINNESOTA FRAUD GOT SO OUT OF CONTROL… SHE BLAMES “GUARDRAILS”
CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Rep. Ilhan Omar on why the $1 billion Feeding Our Future fraud scheme involving mostly Somali perpetrators spiraled so badly in her state.
Her answer… pic.twitter.com/wacQffwL8S
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 4, 2025
“I think what happened is that, you know, when you have these kinds of new programs that are designed to help people, you are oftentimes relying on third parties to be able to facilitate,” the congresswoman said, filling her response with pauses and “ums.”
“I just think that a lot of the COVID programs were set up, they were set up so quickly that a lot of the guardrails did not get created,” she declared.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has come under fire for failed oversight and, amid the charges in the COVID-relief fraud scheme, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced another investigation, writing in a social media post, “Numerous individuals and nonprofits indicted in the $1 billion Minnesota COVID fraud scandal, including Feeding Our Future, received SBA PPP loans in addition to other state and federal funding,”
Numerous individuals and nonprofits indicted in the $1 billion Minnesota COVID fraud scandal, including Feeding Our Future, received SBA PPP loans in addition to other state and federal funding. Today, I have ordered an investigation into the network of Somali organizations and… https://t.co/J4FLoH1S0s
— Kelly Loeffler (@SBA_Kelly) December 2, 2025
“I have ordered an investigation into the network of Somali organizations and executives implicated in these schemes,” Loeffler added.
Meanwhile, Omar’s response to Tapper’s question about the shocking revelations in her state only led to more criticism on social media, where X users trounced the far-left Democrat for her “textbook deflection.”
It’s everyone’s fault but theirs
— 3ddy (@0x3ddy) December 4, 2025
Ilhan Omar is lying. The guardrails were there but the fraudsters threatened to sue the authorities for racism if they didn’t pull back on oversight.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) December 4, 2025
High-trust cultures don’t need ‘guardrails’. That’s the point.
— Alexandra Marshall (@ellymelly) December 4, 2025
And yet other states managed not to have as much fraud. Wonder what’s different.
— Chris (@CalumetCtyGOP) December 4, 2025
Textbook deflection. Media doesn’t press on said politician. Media now says they tried to no avail. No consequences.
Rinse and repeat
— Yoshiua (@_Yoshiua_) December 4, 2025
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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