JD Vance said Nick Shirley should receive a Pulitzer Prize in journalism for exposing alleged fraud in Somali daycares, but the conservative hero is being branded ‘stupid’ and ‘illiterate’ following a shocking interview.
Shirley, 23, uploaded a viral video alleging that 10 Somali-run daycare centers had misappropriated over $100 million in taxpayer funds in Minnesota.
The daycares were accused of not taking care of children by being empty during normal business hours. Shirley’s video received hundreds of millions of views across social media with billionaire Elon Musk promoting it across X.
State and federal officials say there is no evidence that the specific daycare centers highlighted in Shirley’s videos misappropriated $100 million or were broadly non-operational, noting inspections found many were licensed and open.
The vice president, at the time, said Shirley ‘has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 [Pulitzer] prizes.’
However, the up-and-coming viral zoomer is facing new allegations that he may be ‘slow’ and ‘illiterate’ after failing to grasp basic English.
In a video uploaded by Channel 5 YouTuber Andrew Callaghan on Monday, Shirley struggled to understand the definition of the word ‘benevolent.’
‘Who do you think are the three most benevolent billionaires?’ Callaghan asks.
‘What do you mean by the word ‘bellevolent?’ Shirley responds appearing to mispronounce the word, which means having positive intentions.
Nick Shirley, who has been praised for his journalism by Vice President JD Vance, appeared unaware of how to pronounce the word ‘benevolent’
Shirley sat down for an interview with Channel 5 Youtuber Andrew Callaghan
Shirley’s viral video accused Somali daycare centers in Minnesota of fraud
After Callaghan defines the word for Shirley, the 23-year-old activist names Donald Trump, Musk, and David Sacks as three most well intentioned billionaires.
The clip of Shirley struggling to answer Callaghan’s question went viral on social media with one user on X writing, ‘You can’t argue with people who are this stupid. This guy needs a chaperone, not a Pulitzer. All the people saying Somalis are stupid sound like this guy.’
One of the top comments on Callaghan’s video with Shirley states, ‘Straight up did not realize Shirley is borderline illiterate. Tracks though.’
Another left-wing X account also mocked Shirley by claiming he is ‘so stupid that he had to ask Andrew Callaghan for the definition of ‘benevolent’ and mispronounced it after literally hearing the word two seconds ago.’
Following Shirley’s video, the Department of Homeland Security launched a deportation effort in the twin cities aimed at deporting illegal Somali migrants.
A DHS spokesperson also added in a statement that the Trump administration is ‘all hands on deck to root out criminals in Minnesota who are defrauding the American people.’
Moreover, FBI director Kash Patel in December also addressed Shirley’s video by writing on X that the bureau had ‘surged personnel and investigative resources’ to Minnesota for the purpose of dismantling ‘large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.’
Currently, no arrests have been made by the administration over alleged fraud uncovered in Shirley’s video.
While Minnesota has faced fraud in social-services programs, authorities stress those investigations are separate from Shirley’s viral claims.
