One year ago, Donald Trump told the American people he’d be open to “cutting” Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — and this week, his shadow president Elon Musk is once again saying the quiet part out loud, threatening to “eliminate” critical programs that serve millions of working people. Trump and his billionaire Cabinet are making their plans clear: tax handouts for the ultra-wealthy and mega-corporations, and cuts to lifesaving earned benefits for the rest of us.

NEW: Billionaire shadow president Elon Musk pledged to “eliminate” earned benefits, including Social Security and Medicare.

Bloomberg: “Musk Says Entitlements ‘Big One’ to Cut in Trump’s DOGE Push”

“Billionaire presidential adviser Elon Musk called entitlement spending — including Social Security and Medicare — a key target for cuts …

“Musk, who is guiding President Donald Trump’s government downsizing effort, said Monday that entitlements with annual budgets of hundreds of billions of dollars were ripe for steep reductions. …

“‘Most of the federal spending is entitlements,’ Musk said in an interview with Fox Business’ Larry Kudlow. ‘So that’s like the big one to eliminate.’ …

“Democrats, for their part, have raised concerns that DOGE’s targets for spending reductions will mean that retirement and health care programs will be in the cross-hairs. Those worries have sparked a wave of angry constituents at town hall meetings, prompting some Republicans to cancel in-person events with voters.”

A year ago today, Donald Trump said that “there is a lot you can do” to cut Medicare and Social Security for millions of Americans and proposed cuts to the programs every year of his first term. 

Joe Kernen, CNBC: “Have you changed your outlook on how to handle entitlements, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid?”

Trump: “So first of all, there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.”

Forbes: “Trump Floats ‘Cutting’ Spending On Entitlements Like Social Security And Medicare”

Washington Post: “His avowed stance, however, is at odds with Trump’s own record as president: Each of his White House budget proposals included cuts to Social Security and Medicare programs.”

Vox: “Trump said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare. His 2020 budget cuts all 3.”

Trump’s FY18, FY19, FY20, and FY21 budgets each proposed billions of dollars in cuts to Social Security programs.

REMINDER: Since Day One, Trump has launched attacks on Medicare and efforts to lower drug prices for working families while putting Medicaid on the chopping block to pay for another round of tax handouts for billionaires. 

White House: “The following executive actions are hereby revoked: …

“Executive Order 14009 of January 28, 2021 (Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act). …

“Executive Order 14087 of October 14, 2022 (Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans).”

Sarah Ferris, CNN: “House budget plan is out. Besides 2 years of debt limit + $4.5T in tax cuts and $200B in border, there’s BIG news for fiscal hawks 

“It calls for $2T in *mandatory* cuts, aka Medicaid, since Trump has ruled out Medicare/SS”

Trump: “[T]he House Resolution implements my FULL America First Agenda, EVERYTHING, not just parts of it! We need both Chambers to pass the House Budget”