The YouTuber told Donald Trump Jr. that prosecutions of public officials, including Gov. Tim Walz if warranted, are necessary to restore accountability amid expanding fraud investigations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
YouTuber Nick Shirley said he wants criminal accountability from President Donald Trump’s administration if Minnesota officials are found responsible for alleged large-scale fraud involving Somali-run daycare centers, telling Donald Trump Jr. that the moment represents a critical test for federal enforcement.
Shirley made the remarks Monday during an appearance on Triggered With Don Jr., following the release of a viral video in which he documented multiple Minnesota daycare centers that reported receiving substantial taxpayer funding despite having no children present. The video, which Shirley shared on X, drew millions of views and intensified scrutiny of Minnesota’s oversight of public assistance programs.
Speaking directly to Trump Jr. during the interview, which aired on Rumble on his podcast channel, Shirley said the alleged fraud demands immediate and serious action.
“I think the accountability we want to see happen with this is we do want to see people actually be held criminally for what they’ve committed,” Shirley said. “If you stole $10 million, you’d be in jail. If I stole $10 million, I’d be in jail.”
He added that if Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz were found responsible for any portion of the alleged fraud, criminal consequences should follow.
“So therefore, if Tim Walz is accountable for, let’s just say, even a million dollars of this fraud, whether he has to spend 10 days in a prison cell or however many years a judge finds him guilty for, that’s what he should have to do,” Shirley said.
“And same with all the other fraudsters and all the other corrupt politicians who allowed this to happen,” he continued. “It’s time to take it serious. And this is such a pivotal moment for the current administration to really show, like, ‘Okay, we’re holding people accountable for what they’ve done.’”
Shirley claimed that Walz and other officials had been aware of the alleged schemes for years and argued that pursuing accountability at the highest levels would result in “massive change.”
On Nov. 29, several state employees accused Walz on X of retaliating against whistleblowers who flagged suspected fraud as federal prosecutors pursued multiple cases. In their post, the employees wrote that they alerted Walz early and sought cooperation to stop the fraud but were met with resistance.
Walz addressed the allegations the following day during an appearance on NBC News’ Meet the Press, saying Minnesota’s prosperity attracts criminal activity.
“I will note, it’s not just Somalis. Minnesota is a generous state. Minnesota is a prosperous state, a well-run state,” Walz said. “We’re AAA-bond rated. But that attracts criminals.”
Walz’s office later defended his record in a statement to Fox News, saying the governor had worked for years to crack down on fraud and sought expanded authority from the state legislature.
“The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action,” the statement said. “He has strengthened oversight — including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed.”
Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown also responded to Shirley’s video, saying state investigations had already examined several of the daycare centers. Brown said those probes did not substantiate fraud, according to reporting by KARE 11.
At the federal level, FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency had expanded its investigative presence in Minnesota. In a statement posted on X, Patel said the FBI had “surged personnel and investigative resources” in response to fraud allegations.
“To date, the FBI dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID,” Patel wrote. “The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg.”
Patel added that the investigation remains ongoing and that agents will continue to follow financial trails.
Separately, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said Dec. 18 that suspected fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid program could exceed $9 billion. Shirley has claimed that his own team identified more than $110 million in suspected fraud in a single day during its investigation.
Past reporting has also resurfaced amid the renewed scrutiny. A 2018 investigation by Fox 9 included surveillance footage from 2015 showing parents briefly checking children into a daycare before leaving minutes later, while the center billed the state for a full day of care. Additional details about that footage were later reported by Fox News.
As investigations expand at both the state and federal levels, Shirley said the response from the Trump administration will determine whether accountability is imposed on individuals he believes allowed the alleged fraud to continue unchecked.
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