President Donald Trump alleged without evidence that Minnesota and its governor were responsible for recent cyberattacks on state water systems, contradicting intelligence assessments that point to Iran.
The claims by President Trump deflect from potential foreign adversaries targeting critical U.S. infrastructure and raise questions about the administration's cybersecurity posture.
President Donald Trump asserted that Minnesota, including Democratic Governor Tim Walz, was responsible for recent cyberattacks targeting the state's water systems, offering no evidence for his claims. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the source of the attacks on over 30 water systems, but security agencies, including the FBI and CISA, have previously warned that Iranian hackers have been targeting such infrastructure. Cynthia Kaiser, a former deputy assistant director of the FBI's cyber division, told the Associated Press that Iran possesses the "geopolitical motivations" and a history of targeting water systems. The White House, when asked for evidence supporting Trump's allegations, referred to his comments. Governor Walz responded on X, stating that Trump knows the true perpetrators and that the administration's actions weakened cybersecurity, leaving the U.S. vulnerable. Trump also reiterated unsubstantiated claims regarding immigration, stating that 25 million people have entered the country under the Biden administration, a figure significantly higher than official arrest numbers. Experts note that Iran has become more aggressive in targeting civilian systems in the U.S. since recent escalations in conflict.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.