Trump blames Minnesota and Gov. Tim Walz for water system cyberattacks, rejects federal intelligence pointing to Iran

During a July 31 Cabinet meeting at Camp David, President Trump dismissed preliminary U.S. intelligence assessments that Iran was likely behind cyberattacks on more than 30 Minnesota water systems. He instead blamed the state and its Democratic governor, Tim Walz, calling them 'grossly incompetent.' The FBI had announced similar attacks in at least seven states, and CISA had recently warned about ongoing Iranian-affiliated cyber targeting of critical infrastructure. Trump's rejection of the intelligence directly contradicted his own administration's CISA warnings. Experts said attribution is complex and it is too soon to clear Iran. Walz responded that Trump 'knows exactly who is responsible' and cited DOGE cuts to CISA as leaving the U.S. exposed, connecting the disinformation to concrete governance harm.

“I think that Minnesota is behind it. You know who is behind it? Minnesota, because they are grossly incompetent. I think the governor is behind it. I don't think there was an Iranian cyberattack.” — Said during a July 31 Cabinet meeting at Camp David, in response to preliminary U.S. intelligence assessments pointing to Iranian involvement in cyberattacks on Minnesota water systems. Quote verified against source