Elon Musk pushed misleading claims about Social Security on Monday, portraying federal benefit programs as being plagued by fraud and signaling that they will be a key focus in his push to reduce government spending. His comments have sparked concern among both Democrats and Republicans, especially as Trump voters make it clear they do not want Musk interfering with Social Security. Despite this, Musk appears to be going rogue, aggressively advocating for cuts to entitlement programs without broad political or public support.
As an advisor to President Trump, Musk has suggested that between $500 billion and $700 billion in wasteful spending must be eliminated. During an appearance on Fox Business Network, he declared that “most of the federal spending is entitlements,” and called Social Security and other safety net programs “the big one to eliminate.” His remarks have raised alarms across the political spectrum, particularly among conservatives who have long defended Social Security as a critical program for millions of American retirees.
Musk’s claims about fraud in Social Security far exceed any credible estimates. Federal watchdogs, including Social Security’s inspector general, have reported that improper payments from 2015 to 2022 totaled $71.8 billion less than 1% of all benefits paid over that period. Nonetheless, Musk has insisted that entitlement programs are rife with abuse and must be overhauled or cut.
He also repeated a debunked claim that the Social Security database contains 20 million deceased individuals still listed as alive. The head of the Social Security Administration has rejected these assertions, stating that there is no evidence of widespread payments to deceased recipients.
Despite growing criticism, Musk continues to push for drastic cuts, positioning himself as a driving force behind Trump’s economic agenda. However, his aggressive approach already evident in his handling of mass layoffs at Tesla and other companies has drawn backlash from politicians, labor leaders, and everyday Americans. Even Trump voters, many of whom rely on Social Security benefits, are uneasy with Musk’s involvement, fearing that his influence could lead to cuts they strongly oppose.
As Musk moves forward with his efforts to reshape government spending, resistance is growing from within Trump’s own base. Many conservatives view Social Security as a program they have paid into and deserve to receive, and they are making it clear they do not want Musk deciding its fate. However, Musk appears determined to press ahead, despite warnings that targeting Social Security could cost Trump support in key battleground states.