The Trump administration has provoked outrage by using an official social media account to share an AI-generated, Pixar-style video that disparages Somali immigrants. This move comes amid a heated political campaign focusing on allegations of widespread fraud within Minnesota's government-funded childcare programmes, many of which are run by individuals of Somali heritage.
AI Meme and Derogatory Rhetoric Escalate Tensions
On New Year's Day, an official Trump administration X account shared an artificially generated cartoon clip, originally posted by a right-wing podcaster. The fake movie trailer depicts Somali men travelling to Minnesota to exploit the state's daycare system for personal luxury, with characters making inflammatory statements about defrauding taxpayers.
This digital propaganda aligns with President Donald Trump's repeated use of derogatory language towards Somali immigrants and US citizens. During a White House Cabinet meeting in December 2025, he labelled them "garbage" people from "hell," and has baselessly claimed they are "taking over" Minnesota and roving streets looking for "prey."
Fraud Allegations and Federal Crackdown
The administration's actions follow viral claims made by 23-year-old conservative influencer Nick Shirley. His 43-minute video, promoted by figures including Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance, alleged massive fraud at Somali-run daycare centres in Minnesota. In response, the federal government has launched a significant crackdown.
The Department of Health and Human Services has frozen all federal childcare funding to states, demanding proof of legitimate spending before releasing funds. Simultaneously, the Small Business Administration suspended nearly 7,000 borrowers in Minnesota, reviewing thousands of potentially fraudulent COVID-19 era loans worth an estimated $400 million.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel announced new operations in the state, with officers conducting "door-to-door investigations." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the probe was a "top priority," warning that the administration was "not afraid to use denaturalization" to strip citizenship from Somali Americans involved in fraud.
Context and Pushback from Minnesota Officials
While fraud investigations in Minnesota's childcare system are not new—federal and state prosecutors have secured at least 57 convictions in recent years—the current political climate has intensified scrutiny. A federal prosecutor recently estimated over half of the $18 billion in federal funds supporting 14 state programmes since 2018 may have been stolen.
However, Minnesota officials have pushed back against the administration's narrative. Tikki Brown, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, noted that each facility featured in Shirley's viral video had been visited by state investigators within the past six months. She acknowledged taking the fraud concerns seriously but questioned some of Shirley's methods, such as filming outside operating hours.
The state's Republican Party admitted collaborating with Shirley to "hold the Walz administration accountable." Meanwhile, Governor Tim Walz and other Democrats have defended the Somali community and the integrity of ongoing investigations, separating legitimate legal probes from politically motivated xenophobia.
