The White House moved swiftly on Tuesday to reassure the public that President Trump will not cut Social Security or Medicare, following remarks from Elon Musk that sparked widespread concern. Musk, a key Trump adviser, suggested in a television interview that entitlement programs should be a major target for spending cuts, prompting immediate backlash. Now, Trump and his administration are scrambling to do damage control, attempting to distance themselves from Musk’s statements while maintaining his role in shaping federal policy.
During his appearance on Fox Business Network, Musk claimed that “most of the federal spending is entitlements” and that eliminating waste and fraud in these programs could save over $500 billion annually. Speaking with former Trump official Larry Kudlow, Musk went so far as to say that entitlement programs are “the big one to eliminate,” which led to widespread media reports that the administration was considering cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
The response was swift, as political opponents and advocacy groups seized on Musk’s comments, warning that any effort to reduce entitlement spending would spark major resistance. Democrats immediately used Musk’s remarks as ammunition, framing them as proof that Trump’s administration was planning to gut vital programs for seniors and vulnerable Americans. Meanwhile, many Trump voters, particularly older conservatives who rely on Social Security and Medicare, reacted negatively to the idea that these programs might be on the chopping block.
In an effort to contain the fallout, the White House issued a statement insisting that Musk’s comments were being misinterpreted. “The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits,” the statement read, emphasizing that the president has repeatedly made this promise. The administration also pointed to findings of waste and fraud in entitlement programs, citing a report from the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, which estimated that nearly $72 billion in improper payments had been made since 2015.
Despite this attempt at reassurance, concerns remain over Musk’s growing influence in the administration. As head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has been aggressively pushing for drastic spending cuts, and his comments suggest he is willing to take a hard line on entitlement reform—even if it means defying the wishes of Trump’s own voters.
Many conservatives have long opposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare, seeing them as benefits they have paid into over a lifetime of work. The fear that Musk, an outsider billionaire with no political experience, could have a say in these programs has only deepened skepticism about his role in Trump’s inner circle.
Now, Trump finds himself in a delicate balancing act—reassuring voters that their benefits are safe while keeping Musk close as an adviser. Whether the White House’s damage control efforts will be enough to calm fears remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Musk’s remarks have touched a political nerve, and the fallout is far from over.