Investigations

Nick Shirley joined Trump for fraud whistleblower incentive launch

Tipsters who help reclaim stolen federal dollars can collect 1% of the recovery through fraud.gov.

In Washington, Nick Shirley stood beside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office as Trump announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program. Shirley posted the visit on Oct. 21, 2026.

Trump credited Shirley's YouTube reporting on Minneapolis child-care centers, including the misspelled Quality Learing Center signs Shirley filmed. Shirley said a Sunday phone call summoned him to the White House for a Tuesday meeting with the president.

Under the program, Americans who help recover stolen taxpayer money can collect 1% of the reclaimed total with no cap, Trump said. Reports go to fraud.gov. Trump said he would act as binding arbitrator when multiple tipsters dispute a reward, and Vice President JD Vance said Shirley would receive a financial reward for exposing fraud.

Shirley said more than 400 Minnesota child-care sites fell under investigation after his videos and that federal officials halted $185 million in payments when operators could not document legitimate expenses. He said the operator who drew the most money bought a one-way ticket to the United Kingdom two days after closing her center, that prosecutors alleged she tried to flee, and that she pleaded guilty after agents stopped her at the airport.

When Salem Media reporter Willie Nelson asked about California Assembly Bill 2624, which critics call the Stop Nick Shirley Act, Shirley said enrolled immigration workers could serve written demands blocking his fraud videos. Trump called California politicians crooked and said his administration would fight alongside Shirley.

Shirley spoke for about two minutes beside Trump and warned that exposing fraud had put his life at risk before any payout existed. After the briefing he gave Trump a Quality Learing Center hoodie, and Trump signed a spare for Shirley to keep.

Vance told reporters the rewards were not limited to criminal prosecutions and that anyone who helped return federal funds could qualify. Trump said a tipster who helped recover a billion dollars could collect $10 million on the spot.

Source video: I Exposed Billions In Fraud... Now Trump Is Paying Me