Elon Musk has sparked controversy by endorsing a series of posts on X by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) that harshly criticize Social Security, characterizing the program as a deceptive "tax plan." Musk's response, calling Lee's thread "interesting," has raised alarms among advocates for Social Security, who fear this signals a broader Republican effort to dismantle the nearly 90-year-old program.
Lee's posts described the Social Security Act of 1935 as a "deceptive sales technique" and alleged that the federal government "routinely raids" the program's trust fund. His remarks drew strong pushback from advocacy groups and experts, who accused him of spreading disinformation to erode public trust in Social Security.
Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), stated: "There is nothing deceptive about Social Security. The social insurance program has been working just fine for nearly 90 years and has never missed a payment." Richtman warned that such propaganda undermines support for the program and makes it easier to cut or privatize.
Social Security Works (SSW), a progressive advocacy group, also condemned Musk's amplification of Lee's comments. "Social Security Works said Tuesday that by amplifying Lee's thread to his hundreds of millions of followers, Musk 'just declared war on Social Security,'" the group stated. Alex Lawson, executive director of SSW, emphasized the program's stability, noting, "For 89 years, through war and peace, boom time and bust, health and pandemics, Social Security has never missed a single payment."
Lawson also pointed to inequities in the tax system, stating, "If billionaires like Elon Musk paid into Social Security at the same rate as the rest of us on all of their income, we could expand benefits for everyone and pay them in full forever." He further warned: "This is a declaration of war against seniors, people with disabilities, and the American public. The Republicans are coming for your Social Security, which they call a 'nightmare.' Elon Musk's commission is a plot to destroy our Social Security by giving it to Wall Street executives-so that you get nothing and they get everything."
Republican lawmakers, many of whom are poised to control Congress, have increasingly signaled their willingness to target entitlement programs. Representative Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) told Fox Business Network on Tuesday, "We're going to have to have some hard decisions" regarding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, hinting at potential benefit cuts or other reforms.
This rhetoric contrasts with President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promises to protect Social Security. However, Trump's own appointees, including Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, have been tasked with identifying federal spending reductions as co-chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency. Critics argue that this mandate could place Social Security directly in the line of fire.
Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, stated that Lee's thread and Musk's promotion of it "should enrage and concern every single American who has contributed to Social Security." He underscored the program's foundational importance, saying, "Social Security is a solemn promise between the American people and the government. We pay for Social Security's guaranteed benefits with every paycheck and expect them to be there when we retire, lose a spouse or parent, or become disabled."
Fiesta added: "No one voted to phase out Social Security or let Wall Street gamble with their earned benefits. Older Americans will rightly punish any politician who tries to cut their benefits or gut the system that has worked for generations."
Advocates stress that Social Security's solvency could be ensured without reducing benefits by adjusting the payroll tax cap so that high-income earners contribute more. This approach, they argue, would secure the program's future while maintaining its promise to millions of Americans.
