State officials in Minnesota were the first to break the news about the security breaches, revealing that hackers had set their sights on approximately 30 water infrastructure facilities within the state.
WASHINGTON, DC: During a July 31 Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump touched on familiar talking points concerning foreign policy, the economy, and immigration. Amid an ongoing political rivalry, he leveled a striking accusation against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, claiming—without providing any proof—that the governor was responsible for recent cyberattacks on water systems across multiple states. Here is a closer look at the facts behind the statement.
Claim: Tim Walz orchestrated the cyberattacks on municipal water systems
Q: Can you rule out that Iran is behind that cyber attack?
Trump: No, I think Minnesota is behind it. I don’t think there was an Iranian cyber attack. pic.twitter.com/4dk8aFXmbv
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 31, 2026
The remarks came as Trump discussed the wave of digital breaches hitting local water infrastructure throughout the country.
While official investigators have yet to publicly name the culprits, both U.S. and state authorities have previously pointed to Iran as a leading suspect.
Dismissing that theory, Trump stated, “I think that Minnesota is behind it. You know who is behind it? Minnesota. Because they’re grossly incompetent. I think the governor is behind it.” He went on to assert, “I don’t think there was an Iranian cyberattack. I think that Minnesota ought to get its act together.”
As noted, Minnesota officials initially brought the attacks to light, reporting that roughly 30 water facilities in the state had been targeted.
Fact Check: False, the allegation lacks any supporting evidence
The accusation is entirely unfounded. Trump presented no documentation or proof to back up his claims linking Tim Walz to the infrastructure hacks.
No law enforcement agency, government body, or credible source has tied Walz or the state government to the incidents. Because investigators have not yet pinned down the perpetrators, Trump’s assertions remain completely unsupported.
In a joint announcement on Thursday, the FBI and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that, beginning Monday, water and wastewater facilities across a minimum of seven states had reported cyber incidents, with some breaches actively disrupting water services.
Even though multiple states experienced disruptions, Trump singled out Minnesota exclusively, making no mention of the leadership in the other six impacted states.
In response to the President’s comments, a representative for Walz directed inquiries to a series of statements the governor posted on X. Writing from his personal profile, Walz stated, “Trump can’t beat Iran because he’s too busy waging war with Minnesota.”
Trump can’t beat Iran because he’s too busy waging war with Minnesota.
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) July 31, 2026
From his official account, he added further critique: “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 also took aim at federal cybersecurity strategies, noting, “DOGE took an axe to CISA and left the U.S. exposed to cyber attacks. Thankfully, our experts in Minnesota were able to identify the vulnerability quickly and work with local communities to stop it.”
To date, no official inquiry, intelligence division, law enforcement branch, or reliable news outlet has uncovered any connection between Walz and the cyber intrusions. The facts currently available contradict Trump’s statements, and investigations remain ongoing without any official attribution pointing toward the Minnesota governor.