Former President Donald Trump on Monday detailed possible Social Security reforms if he returns to the White House.
Appeared on CNBC squawk box, President Trump was asked by co-host Joe Kernen if he had any thoughts on changes to entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security. President Trump responded, “There’s a lot that can be done when it comes to rights, when it comes to curtailing rights, when it comes to theft and mismanagement of rights.”
He added: “We know that because we are a weak country, we will end up weakening social security.”
President Trump went on to say that he believed the nation’s “cumulative inflation rate” was approaching 50% and warned that the nation’s “middle class is being decimated.”
“The middle class primarily built this country, and they have been treated very badly by policy,” he said.
context
President Joe Biden vowed to protect Medicare and Social Security in his State of the Union address last week, saying, “The working people who built this country pay more for Social Security than millionaires and billionaires.” Ta. He added: “That’s not fair.”
Biden also accused Republicans of seeking “further tax cuts for the wealthy,” as well as cuts to Social Security.
On X (formerly Twitter), the Biden-Harris Headquarters account shared a video of President Trump’s comments on Monday, accusing him of wanting to cut Social Security.
In response, the Trump Strategy Office account tweeted: “If Loser doesn’t cut his answers short, we’ll know President Trump is talking about reducing waste.”
Mr. Biden also responded to X, writing, “Not on my watch.”
what we know
In 2023, President Trump talked about Social Security and rejected claims that he would try to cut the program.
“There’s no need to touch on Social Security,” he said in a town hall with Fox News’ Sean Hannity in December of the same year. “There’s far more money sitting in the ground than we could ever do by hurting seniors in Social Security.”
newsweek President Trump’s press secretary was contacted for comment via email.
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In January, Social Security Works, a left-wing advocacy group that seeks to expand benefits, warned of Trump’s chances of being re-elected.
The paper said he “proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare every year during his presidency” and “sought to defund Social Security.”
what’s next
Earlier this month, a Navigator Research poll found that 61% of Republicans said they were very or somewhat concerned about the possibility of a Republican plan to cut taxes that would cut Social Security for older Americans. It has been found.
Updated 3/11/24 at 10:49 a.m. and 11:33 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and background.
rare knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, finding common ground and finding connections.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, finding common ground and finding connections.