Despite promises, Trump takes aim at Social Security, Medicare

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/despite-promises-trump-takes-aim-social-security-medicare-n1134611?cid=sm_fb_maddow&fbclid=IwAR3hvN7RVp5jxsFClsjBiThp7W4bFnQrKjEExJeKmETsRrUn-7mG5YI3LCU

Feb. 11, 2020, 8:00 AM EST
By Steve Benen

"I'm not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I'm not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid," Donald Trump declared in 2015.

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A few weeks ago, however, the Republican started hedging. Over the weekend, referring to the new White House budget, Trump's promise not to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid quietly lost one of its three pillars. He tweeted, "We will not be touching your Social Security or Medicare in Fiscal 2021 Budget."

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As for Social Security, benefits to seniors are untouched in the new White House budget plan, but as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted in an analysis, Trump's blueprint does cut eligibility for Social Security disability benefits.

For those who rely on these social-insurance programs, it's important to emphasize that there's no real cause for alarm. The president's budget is merely a proposal, which Congress -- most notably the Democratic-led House -- is bound to ignore. The cuts Trump has asked for will not actually happen, at least not anytime soon.

But the budget is an opportunity for the White House to present its vision to the nation, in effect, signaling to Americans the kind of changes the president would like to see unfold if he had his way.

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