Trump awards $10,000 to YouTuber Shirley for Minnesota fraud video

President Donald Trump handed a $10,000 check to conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley inside the Oval Office. The payment recognized Shirley’s viral footage regarding alleged misuse of public funds and coincided with the administration’s launch of a new federal reward scheme intended to motivate citizens to report suspected government fraud.

The Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program details

Trump and Vice President JD Vance announced the $25 million whistleblower initiative, officially named the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program or WHIP. The Justice Department will manage this program, enabling individuals to submit reports on suspected fraud via a designated government website. According to the Justice Department, tipsters whose information results in criminal charges may receive rewards ranging from $10,000 to $30,000. Trump stated that he hoped the financial incentive would “keep a lot of people honest.”

Shirley’s viral Minnesota daycare allegations

Shirley received the check after his 42-minute video concerning Minnesota day care centers gained widespread attention online in December 2025. The content alleged that nearly a dozen facilities collected public funding without providing child care services. This reach prompted visits from state officials and Homeland Security agents, as reported by CBS News.

CBS News review contradicts some claims

Licensing data examined by CBS News did not fully support Shirley’s assertions. Records dated Dec. 30, 2025, indicated that only two of the childcare centers investigated lacked active licenses. State inspectors had checked the remaining open facilities within the previous six months. While inspectors flagged numerous issues, including sanitation and safety concerns, faulty equipment, and gaps in employee training, the records contained no documented proof of fraudulent activity.

Specific cases and broader investigations

Minnesota records show that Minneapolis-based Quality Learning Center closed its doors in January after receiving $1.9 million from the state’s Child Care Assistance Program during fiscal 2025. A separate case linked to Shirley’s footage resulted in a guilty plea, where a woman featured in one of his videos admitted to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States. These allegations fall within a wider investigation into pandemic-related fraud in Minnesota. Federal prosecutors have pursued the Feeding Our Future case, in which investigators estimated that $250 million in payments had been obtained fraudulently.