Nick Shirley

Nick Shirley
Shirley in 2026
Born (2002-04-04) April 4, 2002[1]
EducationFarmington High School
Occupations
  • YouTuber
  • content creator
Twitter information
Handle
Years active2017–present
Followers1.2 million
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2015–2021, 2023–present
Subscribers1.6 million
Views288 million
Last updated: 2026-01-17

Nick Shirley (born April 4, 2002) is an American right-wing YouTuber and influencer.[2][3] In December 2025, his video alleging fraud at Somali-run child care centers in Minnesota went viral;[4] the video's allegations were unsubstantiated.[5][6] As of late December 2025, state officials said that investigations had not found evidence of fraud at the sites Shirley visited.[7]

Early life and education

Shirley was raised in Utah. He attended Farmington High School in Farmington, Utah, graduating in 2020.[8]

Career

Early activities

Shirley started his YouTube career as an amateur vlogger and prankster at age 16. Most of his pranks involved his high-school friends, while others included publicity stunts such as disrupting celebrity weddings.[9][8][4] He also offered to sell some of his own recorded footage, including of the January 6 attack, to media companies such as CNN and HuffPost.[9]

Shirley said in late 2021 that he would cease his activities on YouTube in order to participate in a religious mission in Chile for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He returned to the platform two years later and began producing political content exclusively.[4][10]

Political videos

Shirley is commonly described as right-wing.[11][12] His YouTube channel has over 1.1 million subscribers and more than 200 million total views.[13] Shirley is best known for street interviews and direct questions.[14] Shirley has described himself as an independent journalist.[15][14] According to The Hill, he has received "pushback from some traditional members of the media" for claiming to be a journalist.[16] Statements by Republican lawmakers saying they had "worked with" Shirley on his Minnesota video raised questions about whether he acted independently.[17] According to NPR, Republican legislators had provided information that appeared in the video, with one Republican floor leader saying they were "ready and willing to provide information ... including some of the information that ended up in that video".[18]

Shirley made multiple videos in support of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in the months preceding the 2024 U.S. presidential election.[19] He paid a number of Hispanic men $20 each to hold pro-Joe Biden and pro-immigration signs in front of the White House as part of a publicity stunt to support Trump. When asked by Reuters whether he had exploited participants in the video, he said he "wanted to give the migrants an opportunity to voice their opinions".[20] Also in 2024, Shirley released footage from inside the Salvadorian maximum-security prison CECOT, which he praised.[16][21] In September 2025, Shirley recorded an interview with British political activist Tommy Robinson[22] in which he repeated a false claim that "40,000 British Muslims" on terror watchlists lived in the United Kingdom. Although MI5 maintains a list of 40,000 terror suspects, it does not capture information about their religious affiliation.[21] Shirley has falsely implied that Ukraine had used U.S.-backed funds to buy luxury cars and a Ferris wheel.[23] He has also amplified Trump's false claim that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.[24]

In October 2025, Shirley participated in a White House roundtable discussion with Trump and other right-wing figures, such as Andy Ngo and Jack Posobiec, on topics including antifa.[22][25][21] Shirley claimed in the title of one of his videos that Portland had "fallen" and antifa had "taken control".[22] ICE arrested several people selling watches on Canal Street in Lower Manhattan after he made a video in which he called them "illegal scammers".[21][26] The Intercept called Shirley's video titles "sensationalized" and wrote that he has platformed "individuals who spread xenophobic and Islamophobic beliefs."[21] CNN has called some of his videos anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim.[27] In an interview with Fox News, Shirley defended his videos, saying, "fraud is fraud—it doesn't matter if it's a Black person, white person, Asian person, Mexican ... and we work too hard simply just to be paying taxes and enabling fraud to be happening."[21] In 2025, James O'Keefe, the founder of the far-right activist group Project Veritas, called Shirley the "citizen journalist of the year".[21] In response to media coverage of his Minnesota fraud video, Shirley wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "I am not an enemy of the people, they are", referring to the mainstream media.[27]

Allegations of daycare and healthcare fraud in Minnesota

Further information: Minnesota fraud scandal § YouTube Video

On December 26, 2025, Shirley published a video, filmed on December 16,[28] in which he alleged widespread fraud at Somali-run child care centers and healthcare companies in Minnesota.[6][21] The video showed him visiting facilities that appeared empty or inactive, interviewing bystanders who said they had not seen children at the locations, and citing public payment records.[29][30] It received over 135 million views on X and 3 million on YouTube.[4][31] Vice President JD Vance reposted the video on social media on December 27, writing, "This dude has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 @pulitzercenter prizes."[32][33]

As of December 2025, investigations by state officials have not found evidence of fraud at the sites Shirley visited.[34] On January 30, 2026, state officials said they had "no public information to share" regarding the investigations.[35] On February 19, day cares featured in the video sued the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, alleging that the agency withheld funds and conducted investigations without evidence.[36]

After the video's release, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation increased their presence in the state and federal funding for the childcare centers was frozen.[37] Somali-owned businesses reported a surge in harassment and threats after the video came out. Immigration and Customs Enforcement increased enforcement activity in Minnesota under an initiative known as Operation Metro Surge.[38]

Comments on Jewish fraud allegations

In February 2026, Shirley endorsed an antisemitic documentary on "New Jersey's Jewish Invasion" published by right-wing youtuber Tyler Oliveira. After some Republicans criticized his endorsement, he called out what he described as the "double standards and hypocrisy of half of the 'republican influencer' space" due to their reluctance to support allegations of fraud carried out by Jews but not other ethnic groups. According to The New Republic, Oliveira's video contained allegations about Jews similar to those Shirley made about Somali Americans.[39][40]

Shirley's support of Oliveira's documentary was published a day after he attended Trump's 2026 State of the Union Address, which he was invited to by Minnesota representative Pete Stauber.[41][40] Far-right activist Laura Loomer, who had previously described herself as an opponent of "left-wing globalist Marxist Jews", criticized the Republican Party's "silence" after Shirley's support for Oliveira's video, despite many "GOP lawmakers [having been] photographed with" him. She wrote that the "GOP has a massive Nazi problem".[39]

White nationalist Nick Fuentes also agreed with Shirley's accusation of hypocrisy among Republicans, criticizing the party for having supported Shirley's video on alleged fraud by Somali Americans, but "when another guy does the exact same thing to the Jews, 'This is another holocaust.'"[40][39][42] Online streamer Sneako, who the Jewish Telegraphic Agency called "antisemitic", wrote on social media that when "Nick Shirley makes a video about Somali daycares, [he] gets pushed by the entire Peter Thiel/MAGA cabal. Elon, JD Vance, Rumble, all glazing benevolently. Tyler Oliveira exposes how Jews in Jersey scam tax payers... No one says a word."[43]

Joel Petlin, a school superintendent of a city visited by Oliveira, dismissed the comparison, saying, "If you can't tell the difference between fraud and harassment, then you've just 'exposed' yourself to be an Antisemite".[43] MS NOW journalist Ja'han Jones wrote, "Despite coming from some abhorrent sources, the accusations of hypocrisy are accurate" because "Republicans invited bigotry into their ranks when they touted Shirley's anti-Somali crusade. And it was foolish for anyone to think this bigotry wouldn't eventually be turned on other groups."[39]

Media appearances

On December 30, 2025, CNN correspondent Whitney Wild interviewed Shirley outside a Minneapolis daycare center for Anderson Cooper 360, questioning his investigative methods and asking how he knew his allegations were true. Shirley responded: "We showed you guys what was happening, and then you guys can go ahead and make your own analysis."[44]

References

  1. ^ Gupta, Shirin (December 30, 2025). "How old is Nick Shirley and where is he from? 5 things to know about the YouTuber who 'exposed' Minnesota daycare fraud". Hindustan Times. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  2. ^ "Minneapolis day care targeted in Nick Shirley YouTube video is now closed, state records show". CBS News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  3. ^ Balingit, Moriah; Kramon, Charlotte (February 1, 2026). "Right-wing influencers target Somali child care centers after viral Minneapolis video". Associated Press. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d Gold, Hadas (December 30, 2025). "Who is Nick Shirley, the 23-year-old MAGA journalist whose Minnesota fraud story went viral? | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  5. ^ Marquez, Alexandra (December 31, 2025). "Trump targets Rep. Ilhan Omar in post attacking Somali immigrants over Minnesota fraud claims". NBC News.
  6. ^ a b Sottlle, Zoe; Rose, Andy; Lybrand, Holmes; Mascarenhas, Lauren (December 30, 2025). "Trump administration freezes child care payments to Minnesota amid federal investigation into alleged fraud". CNN. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  7. ^ Raguse, Lou (December 29, 2025). "State commissioner responds to viral YouTuber video about Somali daycare fraud in Minneapolis". kare11.com. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Dean, Tania (May 25, 2020). "2020 Farmington High Grad Works Hard On YouTube Stardom". KSL-TV. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Tani, Max. "Right-wing influencers post. Federal force follows". Semafor. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  10. ^ Wight, Conor (January 1, 2026). "Records reveal Minnesota's long history with day care fraud warnings". CBS News. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  11. ^ Vancleave, Mark (January 2, 2026). "Director of ABC Learning Center in Minnesota responds to viral fraud claims". Associated Press (video). Archived from the original on January 6, 2026. The director of ABC Learning Center says the viral video alleging fraud by right-wing influencer Nick Shirley is part of a political campaign against Somali Minnesotans.
  12. ^ Allen, Mike; Bressner, Noah (December 29, 2025). "YouTuber Nick Shirley gets FBI response to Minnesota fraud probe". Axios.
  13. ^ Kukreti, Shweta (December 28, 2025). "Who is Nick Shirley? YouTuber's 'Minnesota's Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal' video sparks backlash against Tim Walz". Hindustan Times. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Gupta, Sehjal (December 30, 2025). "Who is Nick Shirley? YouTuber accused of exposing Minnesota daycare fraud in trending investigation". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  15. ^ Treisman, Rachel (January 1, 2026). "What to know about Nick Shirley, the YouTuber alleging day care fraud in Minnesota". NPR. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  16. ^ a b Fields, Ashleigh (December 30, 2025). "Who is Nick Shirley, YouTuber who made viral Minnesota fraud video?". The Hill. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  17. ^ Kang, Jay Caspian (January 6, 2026). "What a Viral YouTube Video Says About the Future of Journalism". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  18. ^ Ferguson, Dana (February 16, 2026). "Minnesota Democrats blame state Republicans for helping bring on the federal surge". NPR. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  19. ^ Masters, Clay; Brown, Gretchen (December 29, 2025). "Here's what to know about a viral YouTube video about fraud in Minnesota". MPR News. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  20. ^ Coster, Helen; Hesson, Ted. "Pro-Trump influencers fire up fears of migrant 'invasion' ahead of U.S. election". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h Valdez, Jonah (December 31, 2025). "Right-Wing YouTuber Behind Viral Minnesota Fraud Video Has Long Anti-Immigrant History". The Intercept. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  22. ^ a b c Mackey, Robert (October 16, 2025). "Who are the rightwing influencers filling Trump's head with visions of antifa?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  23. ^ Meitrodt, Jeffrey; Winter, Deena (December 30, 2025). "How Minnesota got back into the national spotlight over fraud allegations". Minnesota Star Tribune. He faced criticism for a video he filmed in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2024, when he falsely implied that American tax dollars were used to buy luxury cars and install a Ferris wheel in the city.
  24. ^ Bensinger, Ken; Londoño, Ernesto (December 31, 2025). "An Intense White House Response From a Single Viral Video". New York Times. He roamed the streets of Springfield, Ohio, amplifying false rumors, spread by Mr. Trump, that Haitian immigrants there had been eating dogs and cats.
  25. ^ "President Trump Participates in a Roundtable on ANTIFA". The White House. October 8, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  26. ^ Bensinger, Ken; Londoño, Ernesto (December 31, 2025). "An Intense White House Response From a Single Viral Video". The New York Times.
  27. ^ a b Seitz, Loree (December 31, 2025). "Nick Shirley Blasts Mainstream Media as 'Enemy of the People' Over Criticism of His Viral Video Exposing Alleged Fraud". The Wrap. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved December 31, 2025 – via Yahoo News.
  28. ^ "Director of Minnesota day care featured in YouTube video on fraud responds". CBS Minnesota. December 30, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  29. ^ Treisman, Rachel (December 31, 2025). "What to know about Nick Shirley, the YouTuber alleging daycare fraud in Minnesota". NPR. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  30. ^ Meitrodt, Jeffrey; Winter, Deena (December 29, 2025). "What to know about Nick Shirley's video alleging fraud in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  31. ^ Smith, Cory (January 2, 2026). "Nick Shirley defends his childcare fraud claims amid scrutiny of viral video". WBFF. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  32. ^ Ferguson, Dana (February 17, 2026). "Minnesota Republicans defend their focus on fraud despite the ICE surge that followed". NPR. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  33. ^ "MAGA media provocateur Nick Shirley boosted an antisemitic video. It was only a matter of time". Media Matters for America. February 26, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  34. ^ Raguse, Lou (December 29, 2025). "State commissioner responds to viral YouTuber video about Somali daycare fraud in Minneapolis". kare11.com. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  35. ^ "Minnesota investigations continue after viral daycare fraud video". cbsnews.com. January 30, 2026. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  36. ^ "Somali day care providers sue Minnesota over fraud investigation". CBS News Minnesota. February 19, 2026. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  37. ^ Sottle, Zoe; Rose, Andy (January 5, 2025). "Minnesota investigators say child care centers accused of fraud are operating normally as governor drops reelection bid". CNN. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  38. ^ Hartzog, Carson (January 9, 2026). "Harassment toward Somali businesses surges after viral video". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  39. ^ a b c d Jones, Ja'han (February 26, 2026). "Opinion | MAGA world deflates after Minnesota "fraud" influencer's antisemitic post". MS NOW. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  40. ^ a b c "Republicans' Favorite YouTuber Backs Probe Into "Jewish Invasion"". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  41. ^ AOL (February 26, 2026). "YouTuber lauded by JD Vance for sparking Minnesota daycare probe now pushes 'Jewish invasion' theory". www.aol.co.uk. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  42. ^ Coolican, J. Patrick (March 2, 2026). "Nick Shirley, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber's guest at State of the Union, shows who he is". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  43. ^ a b Gilson, Grace (February 27, 2026). "As popular YouTuber targets US Orthodox communities, the right grapples with antisemitism". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  44. ^ Samuels, Brett (January 1, 2026). "CNN reporter grills YouTuber whose Minnesota day care video went viral". The Hill. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.