"Fraudsters want to kill him for telling the truth"-Elon Musk reacts to Nick Shirley getting alleged threats after his Minnesota daycare scandal video

Elon Musk publicly reacted after conservative commentator Nick Shirley claimed he was receiving serious threats following his viral video alleging widespread fraud linked to Minnesota daycare programs. On December 31, Elon Musk reposted a video clip of Shirley’s interview with Donald Trump Jr. on Triggered, Trump Jr.’s online show, which originally aired on December 29.

In his repost on X, Elon Musk suggested that Shirley was being targeted because of the claims he made, implying that those involved in the alleged wrongdoing were attempting to silence him.

“Because fraudsters want to kill him for telling the truth,” Elon Musk wrote in the caption of the repost.

The video clip itself (which was shared on X by user Jay Plemons) featured Nick Shirley detailing the backlash he said followed his exposure of what he claimed amounted to billions of dollars in fraud connected to Minnesota-based daycare operations.

Nick Shirley argued that many people benefiting from the system were enraged because the allegations threatened a long-standing narrative they had accepted as normal. He explained:

“They’re so mad…the civilians are so mad. Because can you imagine, for years you’re at the dinner table talking with your family about how everything’s good…I mean, 81% of these people are on welfare, but on top of that, they’re collecting millions of dollars for these companies, tax-exempt by the way, especially the daycares. So, can you imagine how mad they are now?”

Nick Shirley went on to claim that the anger had escalated into direct threats against his safety.

“There's bounties on me here in Minnesota, because people are so upset as far as the fraud that's being exposed, because they know their time's up, and they know everyone's just sick and tired of this happening inside their own state and across America,” Nick Shirley said.

In addition to online backlash, Nick Shirley claimed he was warned about an official-sounding alert allegedly issued in relation to him. He said he was advised that a “bolo” (a be-on-the-lookout notice) had been circulated, though he declined to share further details. According to Shirley, the combination of death threats on social media and heightened attention made it unsafe for him to move freely.

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More about Nick Shirley and his viral investigative video on the Minnesota daycare scandal

Nick Shirley (Image via Instagram/@nickshirley)

YouTuber Nick Shirley became a viral figure after posting a 42-minute investigative video in which he documented what he alleged were fraudulent child care programs across Minnesota.

The video, which quickly gained traction online, showed Shirley visiting day care centers that were receiving public funds and questioning staff about the absence of children at the facilities.

According to The Hill, the video amassed more than 100 million views on the social media platform X, catapulting the 23-year-old into the national spotlight.

In the footage, Shirley confronted employees outside multiple locations, repeatedly asking about the children who were supposedly enrolled in the programs.

The timing of Shirley’s video contributed significantly to its virality. It emerged amid heightened scrutiny following a federal investigation into Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which was accused of diverting millions of dollars intended for low-income children during the COVID-19 pandemic. While several Somali American immigrants were charged in connection with the scheme, court records identified a white woman as the alleged ringleader of the operation.

As the video spread, it became entangled in broader political debates. Figures aligned with the MAGA movement and officials connected to the Trump administration amplified Shirley’s findings, framing the footage as further evidence of systemic fraud in the state.

Vice President J.D. Vance publicly praised Shirley’s approach on X, on December 28, emphasizing what he described as the YouTuber’s effectiveness compared to traditional media.

“This dude has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 @pulitzercenter prizes.”

Additionally, Nick Shirley’s connections to Trump administration officials predated the viral video.

Earlier in the year, he attended a White House roundtable focused on the antifa movement. That discussion later gained significance after the Trump administration classified antifa as a terrorist organization, further cementing Shirley’s visibility within conservative political circles.

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Elon Musk slams Minnesota Governor Tim Walz amid expanding fraud investigations

Elon Musk (Image via Getty Images)

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk sharply criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as the state faced mounting scrutiny over multiple alleged fraud schemes tied to its social services system.

The remarks came as Minnesota remained under intensified federal and political investigation following probes launched by the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers.

At the center of the controversy was the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, a $250 million fraud scheme that allegedly exploited a federally funded children’s nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program, which was overseen by the state and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was intended to provide meals to children but instead became one of the largest pandemic-era fraud cases in the United States.

As investigations continued, criticism of Walz’s leadership grew.

Elon Musk weighed in on the controversy by directly targeting Walz in a post on X, appearing to accuse the governor of betraying public trust amid ongoing investigations and concerns over the handling of taxpayer funds.

“Traitor Tim Walz,” Elon Musk wrote in a post on X on December 30.

The comment was made in response to a separate post by X user Dustin Grage, who shared a satirical dialogue styled as a call-in segment on personal finance expert Dave Ramsey’s radio show.

The post mocked Walz’s record as governor, referencing claims that he raised taxes, rapidly spent billions of dollars from a state budget surplus, and now faced scrutiny connected to large-scale fraud cases involving Medicaid and federally funded child nutrition programs.

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As of now, the reviews are ongoing into fraudulent child care programs across Minnesota, which were documented by Nick Shirley. No official fraud charges have been announced yet.

On the other hand, Tim Walz had not responded to Elon Musk’s comment about him.

Edited by Shayari Roy