GOP Senate Hopeful Demands Lt. Gov Apologize For Hijab Video Amid MN Fraud Fury [WATCH]

Republican senatorial candidate David Hann is calling on one of his potential Democratic opponents, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, to apologize after a clip of her wearing a hijab and voicing support for the Somali community spread across social media amid a massive fraud scandal that has roiled the state.

“It’s emblematic of the way she and other Democrat politicians in Minnesota have behaved over the past decade or so. They’re very political,” Hann told Fox News Digital.

“They just are pandering to political constituencies, and they’re not doing the job that they were elected to do.”

In the video — widely criticized by conservatives last week — Flanagan is seen donning a hijab while speaking to Somali constituents.

“Salam alaikum,” Flanagan says, before adding: “The Somali community is part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota.”

“I am here shopping today and just encouraging other folks to show up, support our Somali businesses, support our immigrant neighbors, and I know that things are scary right now,” Flanagan added in the video that aired on Somali TV.

“Being part of Minnesota and growing up here, the Somali community has always been a part of my Minnesota,” she said, urging residents to “show up and support our Somali businesses and our immigrant neighbors.”

“We’ve got your back,” Flanagan said.

Minnesota’s Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan is one of my Democrat opponents for U.S. Senate here in the 2026 mid-terms. Is this real? If so, you see what I mean? It’s almost as if she actually thinks this looks genuine. I have secondary embarrassment from it.

Royce White for U.S.… pic.twitter.com/SgoW4oFjWl

— Royce White 🇺🇸 (@Highway_30) December 26, 2025

But critics say the timing — amid allegations of fraud tied to Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded social services — made the clip feel less like leadership and more like performance.

Flanagan has not spoken out in response to the viral investigation from journalist Nick Shirley highlighting the alleged fraud problem in Minnesota, and she faced criticism from those who accused her of downplaying the scandal.

“This is what political performance looks like — symbolism over accountability — while billions in taxpayer dollars vanish,” Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham posted on X. “Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan wears hijab in solidarity with Somalis as feds probe multibillion-dollar fraud scandal.”

Hann is now demanding a clean-up — and a retraction.

Hann told Fox News Digital that Flanagan should apologize for and retract the video.

“They did not do their duty out of concern that they would offend a political constituency,” Hann said. “So they haven’t done anything to take responsibility for what the public expects them to do. So yes, she should apologize.”

And he went further, arguing she shouldn’t be elevated to federal responsibility.

“She certainly should not be sent to Washington to oversee federal dollars being spent,” Hann said, calling it “emblematic of the way Democrats have governed in this state.”

“They like to posture, they like to tell people how compassionate they are. They tell us our high taxes are helping people, but they really haven’t demonstrated a concern for helping people. They’re more interested in just spending.”

Fox News’ Laura Ingraham shared an image of Flanagan, calling out her “political performance.”

This is what political performance looks like — symbolism over accountability — while billions in taxpayer dollars vanish.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan wears hijab in solidarity with Somalis as feds probe multibillion-dollar fraud scandal. pic.twitter.com/Qdz8wGfdVn

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 29, 2025

More over at Fox News:

POLITICAL PERFORMANCE: David Hann rips Lt. Gov. Flanagan’s hijab video as Democrats prioritize ‘posturing’ over enforcement while Minnesota faces multibillion-dollar fraud probe. https://t.co/GXC9XXq0zm

— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) December 30, 2025