President Trump appoints VP JD Vance to lead a ‘war on fraud’, targeting alleged public benefits abuse in states like Minnesota, California, and Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has appointed Vice President JD Vance to lead a new “war on fraud”.

Trump announced the initiative during his State of the Union address, focusing on alleged abuses of government benefits.

He specifically cited Democratic-controlled states like Minnesota, California, Massachusetts, and Maine. “I am officially announcing the war on fraud, to be led by our great Vice President JD Vance,” Trump declared.

The president claimed that recouping fraudulent funds could balance the federal budget. He argued that if his administration could “find enough of that fraud, we will have a balanced budget overnight.”

Federal investigators are already examining benefits fraud in Minnesota. The Trump administration has particularly criticised Somali immigrants in relation to these schemes.

Officials allege public benefits fraud is widespread within Minnesota’s large Somali community. The state is home to the country’s largest Somali immigrant population, estimated at around 80,000 people.

 The Sun Malaysia