Friday, July 31, 2026
Vol. VIII
Est. 2019

The Mind Shield

News · Opinion · Politics · Analysis

Trump blames Minnesota, not Iran, for cyberattacks on state’s water systems.

Trump blames Minnesota, not Iran, for cyberattacks on state’s water systems.
Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen during a cabinet meeting, Friday, July 31, 2026, at Camp David, the presidential retreat, near Thurmont, Md., Friday, July 31, 2026. Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin.

Donald Trump downplayed any Iranian involvement in the cyberattack on Minnesota’s water systems, instead blaming the state’s Democratic governor, Tim Walz.

“They blame it on Iran. I don’t think so. I think I blame it on Minnesota because they’re grossly incompetent,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday. “I would blame it on Minnesota and the governor, the corrupt governor of Minnesota.”

“They like to say, ‘Oh, it was Iran.’ Iran should be so lucky. Iran’s got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota,” he continued.

The attack comes five months into Trump’s deeply unpopular war with Iran.

At least seven states were impacted by the cyberattacks, according to the FBI. Minnesota’s water supply has not been reported compromised as a result of the attack, a Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesperson said.

The New York Times reported that investigators believe the cyberattack on more than 30 municipal water systems in Minnesota was probably conducted by Iranian hackers, citing unnamed U.S. and Minnesota officials.

 Walz fired back at Trump in a post on Twitter, writing, “Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too.”

“This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran,” Walz added.

The governor also blamed Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the former government-slashing agency once led by Elon Musk, for gutting the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

“DOGE took an axe to CISA and left the U.S. exposed to cyber attacks,” Walz wrote. “Thankfully, our experts in Minnesota were able to identify the vulnerability quickly and work with local communities to stop it.”