President Donald Trump has blamed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for cyberattacks targeting water systems, making the claim during a Cabinet meeting. The allegation has been described by fact-checkers and other coverage as unsupported, with no publicly established evidence that Walz was responsible for the incidents.
U.S. officials have instead viewed Iran as a likely source of the attacks, according to reporting cited in coverage of the incident. The available accounts indicate that hackers targeted municipal water systems in Minnesota and other states, although public information about the perpetrators, their methods and the extent of any damage remains limited.
The FBI has said water systems in seven states were targeted during the week in question. The incidents have drawn attention to the vulnerability of local utilities and prompted scrutiny of competing claims about who was behind them. Trump has also cast doubt on the possibility of Iranian involvement, while officials and other reports have continued to point toward Iran as the leading explanation.
Related Coverage
- Fact check: Trump baselessly claims Walz is ‘behind’ cyberattack, repeats debunked claims at Cabinet meeting
- President Trump casts doubt on possible Iranian role in cyberattacks targeting US water systems
- U.S. Sees Iran as Likely Behind Cyberattack on Minnesota Water Systems
- Hackers targeted municipal water systems in 7 states this week, FBI says
