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Trump administration gives $10,000 to right-wing YouTuber, launches $25 million fraud bounty program

Confirmed1 source · Oct 20, 2026

The White House is rewarding content creator Nick Shirley and opening a public fraud-reporting program with up to $30,000 per tip, though Trump suggested commissions could exceed that cap.

Trump administration gives $10,000 to right-wing YouTuber, launches $25 million fraud bounty program
Image via The Verge

What happened

On Tuesday, Donald Trump and JD Vance announced that the Trump administration is giving right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley $10,000 and launching the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP), a $25 million bounty pool. The program offers up to $30,000 to members of the public whose fraud tips lead to convictions or significant federal action, with particular emphasis on hospice, home healthcare, daycares, and special services. Trump stated the administration would also pay 1 percent commissions on recovered fraud amounts, citing examples of $1 billion, $10 billion, $200 billion, or $400 billion—figures that would exceed the stated $30,000 cap. The White House did not clarify how Shirley's payment was calculated or how the program is being funded.

Context

Shirley gained prominence in December 2025 after publishing a viral video alleging fraud at daycares operated by members of Minnesota's Somali community. His methodology involved lingering in parking lots and requesting entry to childcare centers, treating refusals as evidence of fraudulent operations. The video triggered rapid federal response: immigration agents descended on Minneapolis and the Trump administration froze Minnesota's federal childcare funding. Shirley has since replicated this approach in other states, visiting grocery stores and hospice centers unannounced. His work exemplifies a genre of right-wing independent journalism in which content creators confront suspected fraud, often resulting in harassment or immigration enforcement. The program and Shirley's reward signal administration endorsement of this investigative model and incentivize public participation in fraud reporting, potentially shaping enforcement priorities around the flagged sectors.