Golf legend Phil Mickelson speaks out on alleged fraud in California

Phil Mickelson has never been one to hold his tongue or shy away from controversial subjects.

The golf legend, who has become the face of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, has weighed in on the recent allegations of massive fraud in his home state of California.

In a series of posts on social media site X, Mickelson slammed the state’s plans for a tax on billionaires while failing to address the alleged widespread fraud.

Mickelson first responded to comments made by Kevin Kiley during a Fox Business interview and later a CNN interview, during which the California congressman spoke about the recently proposed billionaire’s tax.

“No amount of tax can help CA (California) until the fraud problem gets fixed. CA fraud makes MN (Minnesota) look like amateurs,” Mickelson wrote on X.

“Instead of stopping the fraud and theft and getting back the money, the plan is more taxes for already the highest taxed citizens in the country,” Mickelson later added.

The three-time Masters champion also responded to an opinion piece by a Sacramento NBC affiliate about the tax.

“How about no new taxes until government gets rid of fraud. Until that happens more taxes will only fund more fraud,” he wrote.

In another post, Mickelson suggested stopping alleged fraud would cost the Democrats enough votes to swing the state Republican.

“The dilemma for all Democrats is if you stop the fraud, illegal immigration, and voter fraud in CA, then Republicans win CA and have a huge majority throughout the country. The Democrat party all but ends,” he wrote.

What did Donald Trump say?

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on alleged fraud in several states during a New Year’s Eve event on Wednesday. He claimed that fraud in the states of California, New York and Illinois is worse than the recently uncovered welfare fraud in Minnesota.

Trump later doubled-down on the California allegations in a Truth Social post, claiming again that it is worse than that in Minnesota while referencing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz – two critics of the president.

“There is more FRAUD in California than there is in Minnesota, if that is even possible. When you add in Election Fraud, then they are tied for first. Two Crooked Governors, two Crooked States!” Trump wrote.

Newsom’s office responded with a statement on X.

“Donald Trump is a deranged, habitual liar whose relationship with reality ended years ago. This is not complicated. He spends his days posting whatever garbage his shriveled little brain can cough up — and (Fox News) dutifully treats it like the Lord’s scripture,” the statement said.

“Meanwhile — in the actual world where adults govern — Gavin Newsom has been cleaning house. Since taking office, he’s blocked over $125 BILLION in fraud, arrested criminal parasites leaching off of taxpayers, and protected taxpayers from the exact kind of scam artists Trump celebrates, excuses, and pardons. Gavin Newsom runs a state. Donald Trump runs his mouth and little fingers.”