'More lies': Donald Trump slammed for clarifying he will not 'jeopardize' Social Security or Medicare
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Former President Donald Trump, in an attempt to clarify his earlier remarks about "cutting" entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, said he was not aiming to "jeopardize" both, reported New York Post.
"I will never do anything that will jeopardize or hurt Social Security or Medicare," the GOP presumptive nominee said in an interview with Breitbart at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Wednesday, March 13.
"We'll have to do it elsewhere. But we're not going to do anything to hurt them," Trump added, promising, "There's so much cutting and so much waste in so many other areas, but I'll never do anything to hurt Social Security."
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in 2023, said that Social Security's Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund would be exhausted by Fiscal Year 2032, and the Medicare HI trust fund would run dry by around 2030.
What were Donald Trump's earlier remarks?
Trump's clarification regarding the fate of Social Security and Medicare arose following his surprising remark during an interview on CNBC's 'Squawk Box' on Monday, March 11.
"So first of all, there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements and cutting," the former president said. "And in terms of, also, the theft and the bad management of entitlements — tremendous bad management of entitlements."
"I know that they're going to end up weakening Social Security because the country is weak. I mean, take a look at outside of the stock market," he continued, adding, "We're going through hell. People are going through hell."
Republicans definitely are a threat to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and/or other entitlements.
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 11, 2024
"Have you changed your outlook on how to handle entitlements — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Mr. President?"
TRUMP: “So first of all there is a lot you can do in terms… pic.twitter.com/rlwILdXivo
Democrats, including President Joe Biden, were quick enough to slam Trump's initial remarks on the two entitlement programs for seniors.
"This man had no idea what he's talking about. And over my dead body will he cut Social Security so he can give tax breaks to the super wealthy. It's just outrageous, and everything he's saying is absolutely wrong," Biden retorted.
I watched the clip of Trump proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 12, 2024
I won’t let Trump take seniors’ hard-earned benefits to give tax breaks to his wealthy friends. pic.twitter.com/D2MCCFeOKm
Many Republican lawmakers have proposed the need to take steps to stop the insolvency of Social Security and Medicare. This includes increasing the retirement age and cutting down the benefits provided to wealthy retirees.
The president had criticized the Republicans during his State of the Union address last week for demanding entitlement cuts. However, neither Biden nor Trump, during their presidencies, has taken the initiative to make any changes to the retirement age. Instead, they have accused each other of jeopardizing Medicare and Social Security.
Internet blasts Donald Trump
Outraged at Trump's backtracking on his previous remarks about the entitlement programs, netizens slammed the ex-president, labeling him a "pathological liar."
One user labeled Trump's clarification as "More lies."
"You can't take a word out of Trump's mouth seriously. Next week he will sing a different tune. Just like he did TikToc. For banning, then against banning," said another user.
You can't take a word out of Trump's mouth seriously. Next week he will sing a different tune. Just like he did TikToc. For banning, then against banning.
— Florida Strong (@strong31625) March 14, 2024
A third individual added, "#Trump is a pathological #Liar and we have already learned that we cannot believe anything he says."
#Trump is a pathological #Liar and we have already learned that we cannot believe anything he says.
— Janet Wagner (@janetswags) March 14, 2024
"He didn't 'clean up' anything, he walked it back...and knowing him, he was lying though his teeth," a fourth response read.
He didn't 'clean up' anything, he walked it back...and knowing him, he was lying though his teeth,
— John Urie (@MercMarten) March 14, 2024
"Too late. We heard what you said," said someone else.
Another remark read, "Like building a wall paid for by Mexico??? He doesn’t give a crap about social security or Medicare (you know the things we paid into) cause he’s a billionaire (or at least he’s a master grifter that gets his minions to pay for him)!!"
Like building a wall paid for by Mexico??? He doesn’t give a crap about social security or Medicare (you know the things we paid into) cause he’s a billionaire (or at least he’s a master grifter that gets his minions to pay for him)!!
— Melodie Kimble (@KimbleMak0202) March 15, 2024
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.