In response to Nikki Haley trying to hide her record of campaigning on ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement: 

“Nikki Haley can’t spin her own words: She’s made it clear again and again that she supports gutting Social Security and Medicare, just like Donald Trump. As the Republican primary shifts to New Hampshire — where nearly one in five residents are over 65 — it’s only going to get tougher for a candidate like Haley who wants to jack up the retirement age and threaten the pocketbooks of America’s seniors. After burning through millions in Iowa only to come in third, Haley and her big money backers clearly haven’t learned any lessons as they try to fool voters about her unpopular agenda to rip away the benefits that older Americans have earned.”

Haley’s on the airwaves today to hide the ball on her agenda to rip away Social Security and Medicare, but America’s seniors deserve the truth — Haley is campaigning on ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them. 

Bloomberg: “Haley Says 65 Is ‘Way Too Low’ for Retirement Age”

CNN: “Haley has called for several changes to the nation’s safety net programs, including increasing the age at which today’s younger workers would become eligible for Social Security retirement benefits and limiting the growth of benefits the wealthy receive.”

“Nearly 67 million Americans have received monthly Social Security benefits this year, and more than 66 million people are enrolled in Medicare. Polling shows little support for major changes to the programs themselves to help shore up their finances.

“A March CNN/SSRS poll of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, for instance, found that 59% said it was ‘essential’ that the GOP nominee for president ‘pledges to maintain Social Security and Medicare as they are.’”

Haley has a consistent record of pushing devastating cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — essential programs that hardworking Americans rely on.

Haley: “What they need to be doing is looking at entitlements. Look at Social Security. Look at Medicaid. Look at Medicare. Look at these things, and let’s actually go to the heart of what is causing government to grow, and tackle that.”

Haley: “Any candidate that says they’re not going to touch entitlements, means that they’re basically going to go into office and leave America bankrupt. … We change retirement age to reflect life expectancy.”

Andrew Ross Sorkin: “Are you on board with cutting entitlements in a big and meaningful way?”

Haley: “Social security goes bankrupt in 10 years, Medicare goes bankrupt in eight. Anyone that says they’re not going to take on entitlement reform means they’re going to go in and be president and leave the country bankrupt. You can’t do that.”

Associated Press: “Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is proposing changes to entitlement programs for younger generations, opening the door to potential cuts to Social Security and Medicare if elected.”

Washington Post: “Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U. N. ambassador who is planning to announce her own presidential bid this month, also praised Ryan’s Medicare proposal at the time and said lawmakers should examine Medicare and Social Security spending to address federal debt.”

Semafor: “As governor of South Carolina at the time, Nikki Haley praised the [Paul Ryan] fiscal blueprint for ‘trying to bring common sense to this world of insanity.’”

Haley received the endorsement of Americans for Prosperity Action, an extreme MAGA group that shares Haley’s goal of ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them. 

Americans for Prosperity: “Is Social Security in Trouble? Yes, and We Need Automatic Fiscal Stabilizers to Help”

Americans for Prosperity: “3 Things to Know About the Trustees Report on Social Security and Medicare”

“It’s time to reform these programs before it’s too late!”