Trump on Social Security, Medicare cuts: ‘There is a lot you can do’

[mystery-ak]

 Trump on Social Security, Medicare cuts: ‘There is a lot you can do’
by Joseph Choi - 03/11/24 11:19 AM ET
Trump appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in his first interview since President Biden delivered the State of the Union address last week. Host Joe Kernen noted there are “stark policy differences” between Trump and Biden but possibly “not a whole lot” when it came to the key entitlement programs.

Kernen asked Trump if he had changed his outlook on how to handle the entitlement programs.

“So first of all, there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements, tremendous bad management of entitlements,” Trump said. “There’s tremendous amounts of things and numbers of things you can do. So I don’t necessarily agree with the statement.”

The Trump War Room account on X, which officially run by the Trump campaign, clarified his remarks soon after, posting, “If you losers didn’t cut his answer short, you would know President Trump was talking about cutting waste.”

Biden responded to the interview, writing on X, formerly Twitter, “Not on my watch.”

During his address last week, Biden deviated from his planned remarks to call on Republicans to preserve Social Security and Medicare.

“We have two ways to go: Republicans can cut Social Security and get more tax breaks to the wealthy,” Biden said. Responding to boos from Republican lawmakers, Biden said, “Oh no? You guys don’t want another $2 trillion tax cut? I kind of thought that’s what your plan was.”

Republicans brought up potential cuts to Social Security during budget discussions last year, with the Republican Study Committee releasing a proposed fiscal 2024 budget with significant cuts to the program.

At the time, Trump urged Republicans to drop this proposal, saying, “Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4523816-trump-social-security-medicare-cuts-there-is-a-lot-you-can-do/

[cato potatoe]

Biden and Trump are two peas in a pod.  When you look at the scale of unfunded liabilities, it dwarfs everything else, and neither of them will allow any meaningful change to right the programs.  What will happen is President Biden/Trump will die after ignoring the topic for his entire term.  Then, there will be a fraught session of congress followed by a crippling payroll tax increase.

[mystery-ak]

Trump hints at changing his mind about ‘cutting’ Social Security and Medicare
By
Misty Severi
March 11, 2024 2:22 pm

Former President Donald Trump changed his tune and teased possible cuts to Social Security and Medicare on Monday if he returns to the White House next year.

The former president claimed there is a lot people can do to address the solvency problem facing entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

“So first of all, there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting,” Trump said on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “In terms of, also, the theft and the bad management of entitlements — tremendous bad management of entitlements — there’s tremendous amounts of things and numbers of things you can do.”

Trump did not go into specifics on what the cuts or changes would look like, but he alluded to cutting waste, according to a social media post from his war room. The two programs could face a funding problem, by 2028 for Medicare and 2034 for Social Security, if no changes are made.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/2914130/trump-hints-changing-mind-cutting-social-security-medicare/

[mystery-ak]

He should have never mentioned SSI....

[LMAO]

At least he’s now acknowledging somewhat that both programs face a serious funding issue after attacking his primary opponents over it

[Maj. Bill Martin]

At least he’s now acknowledging somewhat that both programs face a serious funding issue after attacking his primary opponents over it.

His dishonesty is staggering.  And of course, the same MAGA crowd that cheered when he said he wouldn't touch the entitlement programs will cheer just as loudly when he says he will.

Never seen anything like this before in American politics.

[mystery-ak]

This is why you NEVER bring up SSI during an election..if my mother was alive she would be calling me nonstop..scare the seniors...

https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1767209273421893839

[mystery-ak]

Way to go Trump...why give the rats ammunition...sheeesh!

https://twitter.com/BidenHQ/status/1767185501146997135

[jmyrlefuller]

Expecting to solve the time bomb that is Socialist Security by "waste, fraud and abuse" is like arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

As for the Democrats, they'd've whipped up that old chestnut eventually anyway. But the thing is, they realize it has to be done... and ironically it's their policies of unlimited birth control, support for abortion and pushing for longer education keeping adults out of the childbearing pool (and reducing their window to have children, thereby reducing family size to below replacement) that has produced this mess.

And only by heavy clawbacks and penalties against those who have embraced that childfree lifestyle will there ever be any chance at solvency.

[Hoodat]

Trump:  “So first of all, there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements, tremendous bad management of entitlements,” Trump said.

Ted Cruz told you this eight years ago.  Ron DeSantis told you this three months ago.  And you called them both 'liars'.

[LMAO]

Ted Cruz told you this eight years ago.  Ron DeSantis told you this three months ago.  And you called them both 'liars'.

We even had one of his loyal sycophants at the time use Democrat talking points to attack people like DeSantis over Social Security and Medicare reform

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Ted Cruz told you this eight years ago.  Ron DeSantis told you this three months ago.  And you called them both 'liars'.

Unbelievable, isn't.it?  Or maybe it sadly is all too believable.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

We even had one of his loyal sycophants at the time use Democrat talking points to attack people like DeSantis over Social Security and Medicare reform

And that same sycophant would just as easily do a 180 and defend Trump for saying that exact same thing.

[Smokin Joe]

Expecting to solve the time bomb that is Socialist Security by "waste, fraud and abuse" is like arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

As for the Democrats, they'd've whipped up that old chestnut eventually anyway. But the thing is, they realize it has to be done... and ironically it's their policies of unlimited birth control, support for abortion and pushing for longer education keeping adults out of the childbearing pool (and reducing their window to have children, thereby reducing family size to below replacement) that has produced this mess.

And only by heavy clawbacks and penalties against those who have embraced that childfree lifestyle will there ever be any chance at solvency.

They have imported ten million who they think they can fast-track into paying those taxes to prop things up a while longer...but Democrats and Leftists are masters of coming up with 'unintended consequences'.

[roamer_1]

Expecting to solve the time bomb that is Socialist Security by "waste, fraud and abuse" is like arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

No, but if honestly attempted, it's a good start. The cost of administering it is coming pretty close to the payouts. I'll bet you could get 30% off the top and not hurt a single beneficiary.

[mystery-ak]

Whoopi Goldberg hits Trump for comment on social security: 'We can put you in jail for all your entitlements'

Goldberg claimed that Social Security is not an 'entitlement,' yelling, 'We paid for that!'
Nikolas Lanum By Nikolas Lanum Fox News

"The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg said Tuesday that former President Donald Trump should be thrown in jail following comments he made about mismanagement of Social Security benefit programs.

Trump was asked on CNBC this week whether he had considered changes to "entitlement programs" such as Medicare and Social Security.

"There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlement, in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements," Trump said.

"I know that they’re going to end up weakening Social Security because the country is weak," he added.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/media/whoopi-goldberg-trump-comment-social-security-we-can-put-you-jail-all-your-entitlements

[cato potatoe]

Whoopi is going to be deflated to learn she is means tested out of benefits.

[LMAO]

From the article….

Goldberg claimed that Social Security is not an 'entitlement,' yelling, 'We paid for that!'



This is one of the most persistent myths regarding Social Security and Medicare. And it’s going to be one of the biggest hurdles to any kind of reform.

People believe that it was a program they paid into for their retirement. Nothing can be more untrue.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

The average social security recipient gets paid out more than they contribute, even accounting for inflation and the time value of money/interest.  So for most people, the correct response is "you paid for some of that."

[DefiantMassRINO]

 

I think the GOP Project 2025 Plan is to let everyone die in the streets ... like God and Nature intended.

[Hoodat]

The average social security recipient gets paid out more than they contribute

That's not saying much.  If I bought a savings bond in 1979 and rolled it over for the next 45 years, I would get paid more than I contributed.  Considerably more.  But then a savings bond would be an actual investment, unlike Social Security.

.  .  .  even accounting for inflation and the time value of money/interest.

I disagree.  Social Security on average 'returns' [sic] 2% on 'investment' [sic].  That is piss poor compared to actual investments.  And then there are those who die early before collecting anything.  Their 'investment' [sic] not only returns no interest, but the entire principle is lost.  Social Security is pure evil.  Always has been.  It does more to maintain cyclical poverty in this country than anything else.

[Hoodat]

Goldberg claimed that Social Security is not an 'entitlement,' yelling, 'We paid for that!'

Social Security absolutely positively IS an 'entitlement'.  You didn't pay for shit.  You had your income confiscated at the point of a gun to be immediately spent by government.  And the money you are collecting now comes from a printing press.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Social Security absolutely positively IS an 'entitlement'.  You didn't pay for shit.  You had your income confiscated at the point of a gun to be immediately spent by government.  And the money you are collecting now comes from a printing press.

If you mean “you’re entitled to it” MORALLY because you “paid in”, yes, SS and Medicare are.

If you mean what commie Dems mean - “dishing out welfare money for nothing” - no, it is not an “entitlement”.

Even though these are not welfare per se, SocSec and Medicare need to be stopped.  They are socialist, and indeed they take money from people and force them to wait so long before they can have the money back.  That is, if they don’t die prior.  Or, gov hopes they die early so gov can keep the money.  No “beneficiaries” to SocSec et al.

People have the natural right to keep and use their wealth as they wish.  Since SS means taking that money artificially from them, it is wrong.

I think this needs to be said.  That it’s a Ponzi scheme and immoral.  But, we cannot just pull the rug out.  All that past money must be returned to the rightful owners AND HEIRS if needed.  And it probably should be stopped gradually and paid out gradually.

[mystery-ak]

 Democrats go on offense as Trump floats Social Security cuts
by Al Weaver - 03/13/24 6:00 AM ET

Democrats are going on the attack after former President Trump raised the possibility of cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Trump said in a Monday interview there’s “a lot” that can be done on entitlements “in terms of cutting,” a comment President Biden immediately seized on. The Biden campaign quickly released a new ad, contrasting the former president’s comments with Biden’s during the State of the Union last week.

This marks the second time in as many campaign cycles that Democrats have elevated the issue after Republican missteps. Then-National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Rick Scott’s (R-Fla.) call in 2022 to sunset all federal legislation, including Social Security, haunted Republicans through that campaign cycle, putting them on the back foot on a subject Democrats relish bringing up.

 “There’s no more popular program, and despite knowing that, people like Sen. Scott and Trump — they always go there,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said. “They’re vague about how to do it, but they always go there.”

Republicans attempted to distance themselves from Scott’s call two years ago, maintaining he did not speak for the vast majority of the party. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) tried to make that clear, telling reporters the GOP plan would not include any sort of sunset provision if they were to flip control of the chamber. And Scott himself dropped Social Security and Medicare from his proposal.

That, however, did not stop Biden and his allies from consistently name-checking Scott and highlighting his blueprint.

Democrats expect a repeat with Trump’s remarks on the campaign trail.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4527467-democrats-go-on-offense-as-trump-floats-social-security-cuts/

[LMAO]

Despite the Democrats  using it as a battering ram against Republicans, they also know that these programs are facing insolvency