- Trump Defends Musk Amid Media Claims on Social Security and Medicare Cuts.
- Elon Musk highlighted waste and fraud in entitlement programs as major cost-cutting targets.
- The Trump administration denied plans to cut benefits while defending Musk’s remarks.
The White House took steps to manage the situation after Elon Musk mentioned in an interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow that there’s a lot of waste and fraud in entitlement spending, especially regarding Social Security and Medicare, and suggested these were areas where costs could be cut.
Musk pointed out that a big chunk of federal spending goes to entitlements and called eliminating inefficiencies “the big one to eliminate,” estimating savings could range from $500 to $700 billion each year. His comments stirred up a lot of conversations on social media, with many critics interpreting them as a push for cuts to vital programs.
In response, the Trump administration released a statement asserting that there are no intentions to lower benefits for Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.
They highlighted that President Trump has consistently promised to protect these programs. The statement also took aim at journalist Jake Sherman, claiming he twisted Musk’s words, pointing to a video that supposedly showed Musk was really talking about waste and fraud, not about cutting benefits.
They referenced various reports pointing out improper payments in entitlement programs, including a 2024 Government Accountability Office report that estimated around $2.7 trillion in improper federal payments over 20 years.
.@PressSec shuts down the Fake News about Elon Musk’s comments on rooting out waste in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security: “The mainstream media has taken Mr. Musk out of context… What he was specifically referring to cutting was the waste, fraud, and abuse that does exist… pic.twitter.com/9CnAyIRGEX
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2025
Musk has been outspoken about Social Security in the past, even calling it “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time” and mentioning suspected fraud in the system, like cases where people over 100 years old are incorrectly listed as alive. However, Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek clarified earlier this year that this data doesn’t mean those individuals are actually receiving benefits.
Even with Trump’s reassurances, critics contend that going after fraud could be used as a reason to cut benefits. On Sunday, Trump reiterated his views on Fox News, insisting he wouldn’t touch Social Security or Medicare but would focus on rooting out fraud to enhance the system.
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Last Updated on March 12, 2025 by 247 News Around The World
