Earlier this week cyberattacks targeted at least 30 municipal water systems across Minnesota. Now the president is putting the blame on the state itself.
Officials with the U.S. Government and FBI say the evidence points to Iran being involved in the attacks, which went after operational technology. Minnesota officials say it could have been much worse, and it was caught before any drinking water had been compromised.
But now, U.S. President Donald Trump is blaming Minnesota, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the cyberattacks.
"They blame it on Iran," said President Trump on Friday. "I don't think so. There was a cyberattack of 30 water plants and I would blame it on Minnesota and the governor, the corrupt governor of Minnesota."
The president added that "Iran's got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota."
The FBI says clues point to Iran's involvement, including Tehran's recent interest in targeting the U.S. water supply. They add that the attack appeared focused on disruption rather than financial gain.
The FBI also is reporting up to seven U.S. states have been recently targeted, and that it appears Iran is responsible. The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other agencies also warned in an advisory last week that Iranian hackers have been targeting water and wastewater systems and the operational controls other critical infrastructure sectors.
That has also drawn a comment from Gov. Walz, who shared on social media:
"Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too," Walz wrote. This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran."
"Trump can’t beat Iran because he’s too busy waging war with Minnesota," Walz added later in the day.
Iran has the “geopolitical motivations” and a recent history of targeting water systems, said Cynthia Kaiser, the former deputy assistant director of the FBI’s cyber division who has been closely monitoring threats to critical infrastructure from hackers linked to the country.
“I think most credible researchers and responders would be right to treat it like it’s Iran until proven otherwise,” added Kaiser, who is now the senior vice president of Halcyon’s Ransomware Research Center. “When it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s really important to call it out.”
Minnesota IT officials are still investigating it, and the attacks did not lead to any water restrictions or warnings across the state.
The comments came as President Trump held a Cabinet meeting at Camp David Friday. The president says saying he is "losing faith" with Iran's negotiating team as they attempt to negotiate an end to the months-long conflict. Mr. Trump did not completely rule out the possibility of a deal that could end the war with Iran.
"I'm losing faith in them because they do lie and they do misrepresent," Trump added. "Well the other day, the five missiles were shot. We knocked them down but we were in the midst of a negotiation. I mean, I'm waiting for Steve to call me, 'How's the negotiation going?' And instead I got a call from Pete that they just shot five missiles at one of our bases in Jordan."
Trump: "We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack and they blame it on Iran. I don't think so. I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent. Iran's got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota." pic.twitter.com/y1Mr6jjgaY
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 31, 2026
"I think I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent"
"I think I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent"
