Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced on Jan. 5, 2026, that he would end his bid for a third term as governor. Walz became a frequent target of online rumors after joining his party's presidential ticket in 2024.
Despite losing the 2024 election, Walz has remained in the spotlight. President Donald Trump has cited long-standing allegations of fraud within the state's social services programs to criticize the governor. The president has sometimes linked these claims, which allegedly involve some of the state's Somali residents, to his rhetoric against the wider Somali community in the United States. In response, Snopes has debunked rumors such as the false claim that Walz spent $8 billion on hiring a Somali company to investigate fraud in his state.
Many claims about Walz's time as governor are also tied to his progressive politics. For example, we have examined whether he signed a law requiring schools to stock tampons in boys' bathrooms.
Here are 12 rumors about the Minnesota governor:
