U.S. President Donald Trump claimed he does not believe Iran is behind a cyberattack on Minnesota's water systems, even though U.S. officials reportedly suspect Iran's involvement in the matter.
White House representatives did not provide details regarding the president's views on who might be responsible for the cyberattack or how Minnesota has contributed to the situation. Walz responded to Trump's statements by posting on his social media platform, X, asserting that Trump is fully aware of who is responsible for the attack and that multiple states have been affected. Walz also criticized Elon Musk's DOGE initiative for undermining the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), while thanking experts in Minnesota for quickly identifying the vulnerability and collaborating with local communities to address it.
Cybersecurity Agency and FBI Responses
CISA informed Reuters that it is working with the Environmental Protection Agency and other partners to assess the full impact of the cyberattack and offer support. However, the agency did not comment on Trump or Walz's remarks. According to a memo referenced in Wired, the Minnesota Fusion Center—an intelligence-sharing entity—found that the cyberattacks on July 26 and 27 showed patterns consistent with a campaign linked to Iran. The New York Times, citing unnamed government and state officials, reported that investigators believe the attacks were likely carried out by Iranian actors.
In a report released on July 22, seven U.S. government agencies, including the FBI, National Security Agency, and CISA, attributed the cyberattacks to hackers affiliated with Iran. The FBI has also observed similar incidents in at least seven other states since July 27, with some instances causing significant disruptions in water operations. Georgia and Michigan are among the states that have reported comparable activity. However, the FBI has not responded to requests for comment related to Trump or Walz's statements.
Trump's position on the cyberattack contradicts information from both state and federal agencies. He has previously made political statements about major cybersecurity incidents, including his controversial 2016 remark encouraging Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's emails. During that time, Trump downplayed concerns about Russian cyber interference and suggested the attacks could be the work of a "400-pound" individual. His current stance on the Minnesota cyberattack continues a pattern of politicizing cyber incidents for public commentary.
The situation has drawn attention due to Trump's tendency to attribute cyber issues to U.S. states rather than foreign adversaries. His comments have created confusion and tension with state officials like Walz, who argue that federal resources and leadership are essential in responding to such threats. Experts and officials remain divided over the exact origins of the cyberattack, but the attacks' characteristics and timing suggest a connection to broader efforts attributed to Iranian hackers.