MAGA-Backed Influencer Accused Of Staging Protests And Pushing Debunked ‘Minnesota Billion-Dollar’ Fraud Story

Nick Shirley, a 23-year-old Utah native with roughly 1.35 million YouTube subscribers, has drawn national attention after releasing a video alleging a "Minnesota Billion Dollar Fraud" in child-care funding. The clip, amplified by high-profile MAGA-aligned figures, has been widely criticized and investigated by federal agencies — and Shirley has been accused of staging events and paying participants to create viral content.

Key Claims And Amplification

Shirley's video alleges that child day-care operators in Minnesota diverted government funds to Somali terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab. The video was boosted by personalities including former FBI official Kash Patel, billionaire Elon Musk, and Senator J.D. Vance, who publicly praised Shirley's reporting.

Nick Shirley (left) was invited to an antifa roundtable at the White House in October headed by President Donald Trump. / JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

What The Record Shows

Many of the specific allegations in the video have been discredited or traced to older reporting. Five of the day-care centers Shirley visited were previously the subject of federal investigations and were cleared of wrongdoing, while other related cases resulted in convictions for some individuals. Experts and local officials caution that the broader, sensational claims in the new video do not hold up to scrutiny.

Government Response And Political Fallout

Despite questions about the reporting, federal agencies reacted: the Department of Health and Human Services warned it could freeze federal child-care payments to Minnesota, and both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said they were increasing inquiries into the matter. At a public event, former President Donald Trump claimed an $18 billion theft figure — a number that corresponds to the aggregate federal funding for 14 social programs in Minnesota since 2018 rather than a verified stolen sum.

President Donald Trump told guests at Mar-a-Lago on New Year’s Eve that the scammers had stolen $18 billion, without explaining the figure. / Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Past Stunts And Ethical Concerns

Shirley presents himself as an "independent journalist," but he has no formal journalism training beyond a high school education. Critics point to earlier content in which Shirley organized and paid participants: in a prior video titled "I Took Migrants to Visit Joe Biden," he gathered Hispanic laborers in Washington, D.C., transported them to the White House, and paid each participant $20 to demand an audience. Media observers say such tactics mirror attention-driven influencer content and violate widely accepted journalistic ethics.

Impact On Communities

The coverage has had tangible consequences for Somali-run child-care centers: several targeted centers reported receiving hundreds of death and bomb threats, and facilities in other states such as Ohio also experienced harassment. Community leaders described the campaign as a targeted attack. Ayan Jama, manager at Mini Childcare Center in Minneapolis, said the coverage put her staff and families at risk and stoked fear in the community.

"This is a targeted attack on our community," Ayan Jama said, summarizing concerns about safety and reputational harm.

Broader Implications

The episode highlights a broader trend: emerging conservative influencers sometimes blur the lines between activism, entertainment, and reporting. Observers warn that sensationalized or resurrected allegations can be weaponized quickly online, producing real-world harm before investigations are complete.

Authorities and watchdogs continue to examine the underlying allegations about child-care benefit fraud. Meanwhile, community leaders and journalists urge caution: sensational claims should be verified before being amplified, and the safety of vulnerable communities must be prioritized.