• Donald Trump delivered a record 108-minute address to Congress promising a brighter future while claiming widespread government fraud without presenting detailed evidence.
• He criticized alleged fraud involving Somali communities in Minnesota and discussed major social service fraud cases, while some officials disputed the higher financial estimates.
• The speech also included a call to ban insider stock trading by lawmakers and was marked by heated exchanges with Democrats including Mark Takano and Rashida Tlaib.
U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a record-setting address to Congress by expressing confidence in a stronger and more prosperous future for the country. However, his remarks on government fraud and Somali communities in Minnesota, along with sharp exchanges with lawmakers, sparked controversy.
In his speech lasting about 108 minutes, President Trump described his vision of a nation moving toward greater success and prosperity. The address became the longest presidential speech to Congress, surpassing his previous record of approximately 100 minutes set the year before.
During the address, the president repeated claims that fraud within federal programs is more widespread than official reports suggest. While the administration has frequently raised concerns about misuse of public funds, detailed evidence supporting these claims has not been publicly presented.
Trump also spoke about fraud cases in Minnesota involving social service programs. He criticized what he described as misconduct linked to members of the state’s Somali community and alleged that billions of dollars had been lost. However, the origin of the figure he cited remains unclear.
Investigations into several overlapping fraud schemes in Minnesota have led to charges against dozens of suspects. The cases involve programs such as pandemic-era food assistance, housing support, and autism services.
Authorities estimate confirmed losses at more than $200 million, although some prosecutors believe the total could be much higher. State officials, however, have questioned the larger estimates as exaggerated. Many of the accused individuals are reported to be of Somali background, and about 66 people have already been convicted.
The president also urged lawmakers to approve legislation preventing members of Congress from trading stocks using privileged information. His proposal drew applause from members of both political parties, though the moment also included tension and sarcasm.
Democratic lawmakers openly challenged the president during the session.
Representative Mark Takano called out that Trump should follow such rules himself. Representative Rashida Tlaib accused the president of corruption. Trump responded with remarks directed at Democrats and jokingly questioned whether former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had supported the proposal, prompting strong reactions from Republican lawmakers.
