Donald Trump Swears To 'Protect Social Security' But Formerly Referred To It As A 'Ponzi Scheme'

Former President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump continues to make headlines with promises to protect Social Security, a program he once referred to as a “Ponzi scheme.” His shift in stance has critics questioning the consistency of his policies and their impact on Americans who rely on Social Security as a major portion of their retirement income. 

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In his book "The America We Deserve," published in 2000, Trump called Social Security a "Ponzi scheme" and suggested raising the retirement age to 70. His views have evolved over the years, though. By 2015, when he launched his first presidential campaign, Trump positioned himself as a defender of Social Security and Medicare, promising not to cut these programs like other Republicans.

At that time, he told CBS's "60 Minutes" that he intended to save Social Security by reclaiming funds from other countries. “What I want to do is take money back from other countries that are killing us and I want to save Social Security,” he declared. “And we’re going to save it without increases. We’re not going to raise the age and it will be just fine.”

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During his presidency, Trump's fiscal policy proposals included measures that would have negatively impacted Social Security. His 2021 budget proposed cuts to Social Security Disability Insurance, which could have reduced retroactive benefits for disabled workers. For Medicare, Trump's budgets aimed to lower payments to providers and suppliers, though these proposals never became law.

As Trump campaigns for the presidency in 2024, he has attacked his rivals for supporting cuts to retirement benefits while not offering specific details on how he plans to ensure the solvency of Social Security and Medicare. 

In an interview with CNBC, Trump spoke about how the government's budget could be improved by reducing spending on Social Security, though his intentions were not entirely clear. "There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and bad management of entitlements," Trump said.

In a subsequent interview with Breitbart, Trump tried to clarify his stance on the issue, stating, "I will never do anything that will jeopardize or hurt Social Security or Medicare." However, he did not specify how he plans to do this but continues to reassure Americans that he plans to protect these programs.

Trump's flip-flopping on Social Security and Medicare remains a focal point in the 2024 election. As his pattern of mixed messages and unclear plans continues, voters must decide if Trump's promise to protect these important programs outweighs his past actions. As this narrative evolves, it will undoubtedly play a critical role in the ongoing debate over the future of America's retirement programs. 

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