Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addressed a large-scale fraud scandal in his state during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, saying Republicans have used the issue as an “excuse” to target immigrant communities, as reported by Fox News.

Walz appeared on the program on Wednesday, where host Jimmy Kimmel questioned him about multiple cases of benefits fraud that have emerged in Minnesota over the past several years.

The discussion comes as federal investigations continue into fraud schemes involving state-funded programs, including the “Feeding Our Future” initiative and Medicaid-related cases.

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"Mixed into all this is this — these multiple cases of benefits fraud that were happening," Kimmel said. "Now, I want to ask you: Did it take an extraordinarily long time for you to know that that was happening? Is that just something that has been spread?"

Walz responded that such cases were not unique to Minnesota and pointed to prior prosecutions.

"It happens in other states. We were going back — many of these people were prosecuted in 2021. He used it as an excuse because it was a perfect thing to do to say there was fraud. Imagine that — you know, coming from this guy, he would know fraud where it was at," Walz said, referencing Donald Trump.

Kimmel later referred to Trump as "Sigmund Fraud" during the exchange.

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Walz continued by addressing concerns about how the issue has been framed publicly.

"Demonize immigrant communities, especially the Somali community," Walz said. "And I said what he was doing was — the programs in Minnesota, look, we are a generous state. We’re also, like California, we’re a payer state. We pay more in than we get back to support 'red' states that don’t support their people. But, they came in to try and destroy those programs and, you know, that’s again rich, destroy programs that don’t help them by billionaires who commit this fraud. But no, it was an excuse for them to do it. Thank goodness the people of Minnesota showed the courage, stood up and pushed back,"

Federal authorities have been investigating fraud tied to multiple programs in Minnesota. In December, officials indicated the total amount involved could exceed $9 billion, a figure disputed by Walz and other state leaders.

The governor was also asked whether the fraud investigations influenced his decision not to seek re-election. Walz said the issue was not a determining factor.

"No. And I think for me, look, two terms is probably enough. I think we get enough of people making careers out of this. Just candidly, Minnesota had a pretty tough year. In June of last year, we finished a legislative session—we’re evenly divided, 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 gunned down in June of last year," Walz said.

He continued, "She and I were partners in doing this work, or whatever. And then the Annunciation shooting... and I think it just kind of got to the point—the fraud stuff on that, Republicans run it up, they put money in it. I just, it was most important for me that we hold the seat with a progressive Democrat, which we will do now. And so, a lot of things went into it, and I’ve got other things I think I can add."

Hortman, a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, and her husband, Mark Hortman, were fatally shot in Brooklyn Park in June 2025 by a suspect posing as a police officer, according to authorities.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding Walz’s remarks.

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