Stephen Miller, US President Donald Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff and one of the administration’s most influential figures on immigration policy, has been accused of pressuring federal agencies to intensify investigations into alleged fraud and increase financial scrutiny of Somali communities in Minnesota.
The allegations were detailed by The Washington Sun, which said it obtained an audio recording of a telephone meeting held in December 2025 between Miller and several Trump administration officials.
During the approximately 10-minute conversation, Miller reportedly asked nine times for information relating to fraud allegations, immigration matters and the Somali-American population in Minnesota.
According to the newspaper, one official attempted to draw attention to a separate investigation into alleged corruption in Virginia.
Miller reportedly responded: “I understand, but that is very far from Minneapolis.” The publication presented the exchange as an indication that Miller was particularly interested in investigations involving Minnesota, which has the largest Somali-American population in the United States.
Miller is a senior Republican political strategist and a key architect of the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration agenda.
He previously served as a senior adviser and director of speechwriting during Trump’s first presidency, from 2017 to 2021, and returned to the White House in 2025 as deputy chief of staff for policy.
He has played a central role in shaping policies on immigration enforcement, border security, deportations and restrictions on entry into the United States.
His influence over the administration’s policy direction has made him one of the most prominent figures in Trump’s inner circle.
His expected appointment as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, would place him in an even more powerful position at the centre of the US executive branch. The chief of staff manages the president’s senior staff, coordinates policy discussions and helps determine which issues and officials receive access to the president. Miller is expected to assume the position on Monday.
Minnesota has an estimated Somali-American population of nearly 100,000, making it the largest Somali community in the country.
The community includes people who were born in the United States as well as immigrants who later became naturalised citizens.
Minneapolis and neighbouring areas have become major centres of Somali-American political, business and cultural life over several decades.
The state has also been at the centre of public and political scrutiny over allegations of fraud involving publicly funded programmes.
Investigations into suspected misuse of government funds have drawn attention from federal and state authorities, as well as national political figures.
However, allegations involving particular individuals or organisations do not establish wrongdoing by the wider Somali-American community.
The reported recording has therefore raised questions about whether federal investigative priorities are being shaped by specific evidence of financial misconduct or by broader political and immigration concerns.
It has also renewed debate over the treatment of immigrant communities under the Trump administration, particularly as officials pursue tougher enforcement policies.
Federal investigations into suspected fraud are a legitimate responsibility of law enforcement agencies, but they must be guided by credible evidence and applied without discrimination.
Somali Americans, like other US citizens and residents, are entitled to equal protection under the law, due process and safeguards against investigations based solely on their ethnic or national background.