Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Friday responded sharply to unfounded allegations from President Donald Trump that Minnesota was behind recent cyberattacks on municipal water systems.
Hackers disrupted control systems at water plants in more than 30 Minnesota communities earlier this week, but officials say the attack did not affect water quality.
"You know who's behind it? Minnesota, because they're grossly incompetent,” Trump said in response to a reporter’s question about whether Iran could be ruled out as a source of the attack. “I think the governor's behind it. I don't think there was an Iranian cyberattack."
Q: Can you rule out that Iran is behind the water attacks?
TRUMP: I don't think so. I think that Minnesota is behind it. You know who is behind it? Minnesota. Because they're grossly incompetent. I don't think there was an Iranian cyberattack. I think Minnesota ought to get its act together.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) July 31, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Trump offered no evidence to back his claim.
On social media, Governor Walz responded that "Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too."
The DFLer added that Trump has “no plan to win a war with Iran” and said that through DOGE, the Trump Administration "took an axe to CISA," the federal cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency.
State and federal officials told media outlets including the New York Times that Iran is likely behind the cyberattacks, but cautioned that investigators have not found conclusive proof of a link to the Islamic Republic.
MPR News reached out to all 10 members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation for a response to Trump’s comments.
In a statement, DFL Rep. Angie Craig called the allegations “baseless” and “nothing but attempts at political retribution.”
“Minnesotans are already reeling from the President’s war in Iran and now we have evidence to believe that the impacts of this conflict have hit even closer to home. It’s time to end the war, stop the political games and put Americans out of harm’s way,” Craig added.
Rep. Betty McCollum, also a DFLer, called Trump’s comments “foolish and cruel.”
“It’s outrageous that he blames American cities and the State of Minnesota for attacks from foreign entities that he provoked,” she said.
DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar did not address the president’s comments but said in a statement that she spoke Friday with U.S. National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross, who confirmed that the attacks have not disrupted water service.
DFL U.S. Sen. Tina Smith called Trump’s response “unserious” and “beneath the dignity of the office he holds.”
“Iran’s purported cyberattack on Minnesota’s water infrastructure must be taken as a serious threat to our national security,” Smith said. “The entire situation serves as a stark reminder of the danger this war puts us in the longer it drags on.”
