President Donald Trump has rejected the possibility that Iran was behind a cyberattack targeting over 30 water systems in Minnesota, instead pointing to what he called the "gross incompetence" of the state's governor, Tim Walz. Trump suggested that Iran "has bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota."
During a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Maryland, Trump stated, "I don't think so. I think I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent." He added that he would blame the state and its governor, whom he referred to as "corrupt," for the incident involving water plants.
This assertion contrasts with preliminary assessments reportedly shared by U.S. and state officials, which indicated that Iranian-affiliated hackers might be responsible for the cyberattack. Federal agencies had also issued warnings days prior to the Minnesota attacks, cautioning that Iranian-linked hackers were targeting computerized controls used by water systems, power facilities, and local governments. These warnings noted that the campaign had already caused disruptions and financial losses, with investigators assessing that the hackers' objective was to cause internal disruption within the U.S.
Minnesota IT Services confirmed that the cyberattack targeted operational technology at more than 30 community water systems on a Sunday and Monday. However, the Minnesota Department of Health stated it was not aware of any requests for residents to modify their drinking water usage. U.S. and state officials, speaking anonymously to The New York Times, suggested Iranian hackers were likely behind the cyberattack.
While Minnesota IT Services has not yet identified a specific actor responsible for the attack and the investigation remains active, the disruptions were felt in several communities. The attacks temporarily shut down controls for the well and water treatment plant in Braham, and communities like Plymouth and South St. Paul had to shift some operations to manual control. No threat to drinking water was reported.
Trump has previously criticized Governor Walz, who is also the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, over alleged fraud in Minnesota's state-administered social services programs. Walz stepped down from his bid for a third term as governor in January amid scrutiny of his administration's handling of these programs, though he has not been personally accused of participating in the fraud.
This is not the first time Iranian-linked actors have been associated with attacks on U.S. water infrastructure. In 2023, hackers affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly breached programmable controllers at several U.S. water and wastewater facilities. These breaches often exploited internet-exposed equipment secured with default or weak passwords. In an earlier case, the Justice Department charged an Iranian hacker for repeatedly accessing the control system of a dam in Rye, New York, in 2013, which could have allowed remote operation of the dam's sluice gate, though it was manually disconnected at the time.