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Did Trump say he'll "permanently defund social security" if re-elected? No.

Dated: August 8, 2020 by Sharyl Attkisson 25 Comments

      

Shortly after President Trump's Saturday news conference announcing several executive orders, numerous analysts and political figures falsely claimed that he'd announced plans to "permanently defund Social Security" and/or Medicare if he's re-elected.

Trump never said that.

President Trump did announce a temporary deferral of those taxes for some Americans as part of coronavirus economic relief.

The president also stated that if he's re-elected, he would like to make those cuts permanent.

His critics, including a flurry of people on Twitter, claimed Social Security would, in effect, be defunded as a result of cuts in payroll taxes.

What many people missed, and what was not mentioned in widely circulated articles in the New York Times and Washington Post, is that the deferral applies to Americans earning under about $104,000 a year.

Higher income earners and their employers still have to pay into the pot.

Portions of payroll taxes have been cut previously. Some raised questions about the potential impact on Social Security when President Obama cut payroll taxes.

Today, Trump announced that if he is re-elected he will permanently defund Social Security. That may make sense to the billionaires at his country club, but it makes zero sense to me.

No, Mr. President. We will not let you destroy Social Security. We will defeat you โ€“ badly.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 9, 2020
Fight improper government surveillance. Support Attkisson v. DOJ and FBI over the government computer intrusions of Attkisson's work while she was a CBS News investigative correspondent. Visit the Attkisson Fourth Amendment Litigation Fund. Click here.

      
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About Sharyl Attkisson

Emmy-Award Winning Investigative Journalist, New York Times Best Selling Author, Host of Sinclair's Full Measure

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patrick says

    August 9, 2020 at 9:45 am

    Made lots of typing Mistakes, how can I work with a phone , and no printer no internet access , no computer , scanner ,printer , mouse , tonwork from home , sorry its hard to read my comment , when this pandemic hit , ready to work if I just jad a computer and assorted and imternet I could have worked and got a extra 600 a week from THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOW ITS DOWN TO 600 , THE 1ST STIMULUS CHEXK FOR 1200.00 WENT TO PAY FOR MY CAR REPAIRS TO GET THRU EMMISIONS , THEN I WAS HIT BY A HOT AND RUN DRIVER SAMSHED MY CAR UP HE DID , AND THE INSURANCE I HAVE IS ONLY LIABILITY HIS INSURANCE CLEARLY HE WAS AT FAULT BUT NO WITTNESS SO HIS INSURANCE IS SAYING I DROVE INTO HIM , HE WAS BACKING UP AND MY GORN WAS BLARING IF ONLY I COULD HAVE BACKEX UP AND GOT OUT OF THE WAY AND I WOULD HAVE NACKED UP INTO A NAPA STORE TRUCK AS A DRIVER WAS RIGHT IN BACK OF ME , I WAVED AT HIM WHEN THE MAN HIT MY CAR BUT HE BACKED UP AND DDOBE OFF , I CANT FIND HIM AS A WITTNESS, NOW I HAD TO PAY 600 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE PARTS I BAUGHT PUT ON , THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID I WAS AT FAULT ANY HOW IT IS LIFE THANK THE LORD THAT HE DID NOT TOTAL MY CAR , WELL THANKS FOR READING , WERE IS THE FEDERAL GO ERMENT FOR ME , REST ASSURED , MY BEST FRIEND HERE DOED OF A OVERDOSE , WHAT A LIFE , MY SISTER HAS 3 GRANDCHILDDEN AND GOT THE MAXIMUM FOR HER HOUSE , MY MEEGER 1200. WENT TO GET MY CAD THEU EMMISIONS AND A BATTERY JUST A WEEK AGO , WERE IS MY 600 A WEEK , FOR TRYING TO WORK A LITTLE FROM HOME , I JAD PLANS FOR THE 1ST STIMULUS BUT I NEED A CAR TO DRIVE RO THE DOCTORS AND TEST, AMD MY MEDICATIONS ALL IF THEM ARE 70 00 A MONTH , I GET 16.00 IN FOODSTAMOS, WOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID HELO WITH A EXTRA 170 A MONTH IN FOOD , NOW I CAN EAT UNTILL THE PRESIDENT STOPS FOODSTAMOS , AND NOW HE WANT TO DEFUMD SOCIAL SECURITY, FOR ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED , LOOK LIKE I WILL BE HOMELESS AGAIN WHEN THE PRSIDENT TAKES AWAY SOCIAL SCURITY DISABILITY, WAY TO GO MISTER PRESIDENT, I ADMIT I AM NOT SMART AND I TRY ,, THE HARDER I TRY THE PEOPLE WERE I LIVE ARE UPSET BECAUSE I JAVE A CAR AND THEY DONT , I HAVE RO PAY FOR GAS SOMEHOW , LOOMS LIKE IF THEY PASS A HUGH STIMULUS BILL SOCIAL SCURITY WILL BE GONE , ANY ONE ELSE WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNMENT FOR THETERRIFIC JOB THEY ARE DOING FOR THE WORKING WHEN WE LIVE ON 1000.00 A MONTH, I JUST HOPE I DONT NEED CLOTHS , OR TOILET PAPER , OR MEAT , MR.PRISDENT WERE IS THE HELP FOR THOSE THAT ACTUALLY NEED THE HELP , YOU WONT EVEN HELP THOSE THAT REALLY ARE TRYING , THIS PANDEMIC HAS HIT EVERYONE HARD , NO I HABE TO PAY FOR FACE MASKS , AND CLEANERS , FOR THIS AMD THAT , CAN YOU ATLEAST HELP THE DISABLED AND THE SENIORS WITJ , FREE PPP GEAR SO WE CAN GO SHOPPING WITH OUR 16.00 IN FOOD STAMPS WELL ATLEAST AITH THE EXTRA HELP FRIM THE FOODSTAMPS , NOW I CAN EAT ATLEAST 1 MEAL EVERY OTHER DAY NOW , MR.PRESIDENT HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO CEED YOURSELF FOR A MONTH ON 190.00 FOR FOOD , MR.PRESIDENT YOU GAVE A EXECUTIVE DESISION TO KEEP THOSE OUT OF WORK TO KEEP THEM AT HOME MAKING MORE THAN THEY WOULD IF THEY WORKED , WHAT ABOUT TJE ONES THAT TRIED TO GOTO WORK THIS YEAR , TO ATLEAST MAKE A EXTRA 200.00 A MONTH THAT IS A EXTRA TWO HUNDRED A MONTH , YOU GIVE THOSE OUT OF WORK 1600.00 A MONTH BECAUSE TJEY LOST THERE JOBS , WHAT ABOUT TJE PEOPLE THAT LOST THE LIFE , AND ARE JUST BARLY ABLE TO AFFIRS 1 ROOM ,
    WERE IS THE HELP MR. PRESIDENT
    MR.PRISENT TRUMP , COULD YOU NOT JAVE GAVE IN THE SAME EXECUTIVE ORDER A EXTRA 1200.00 TO THOSE THAT CANT AFFORD MEDICATION ,
    MR.PRESIDENT TRUMP THANK YOU

    Reply
    • Holly says

      August 10, 2020 at 10:52 am

      I'm sorry you are struggling.
      I'm curious though ... how did you supporr yourself before the pandemic?

      Reply
  2. Mark Raisor says

    August 9, 2020 at 12:36 pm

    NO wonder you are a "FORMER" CBS Reporter!๐Ÿ˜‚

    TWO QUESTIONS:
    1) - How much is Trump paying you again?!
    2) - How many times a day are you thumping your Bible?

    Reply
    • Sharyl Attkisson says

      August 10, 2020 at 8:45 am

      It's sad that when facts are pointed out, it makes you respond with hate, bigotry and partisanship. This probably isn't the website for you, although you are welcome to peruse.

      Reply
      • Donna Moll says

        August 10, 2020 at 6:48 pm

        Sharyl, just keep on doing what you do best. I once wanted to be a journalist, but I saw what was coming. It's become a muddy ocean of half-truths (or no truths), and we have to look for the facts ourselves. We rely on real journalists like you, so please continue to speak proud and say it loud!

        Reply
  3. Susan says

    August 9, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    I heard him say that but, unlike the "Chicken Littles " of the world, did not go off the deep end with "He can't DO THAT" He's going to DESTROY"....whatever. That would be a HUGE policy change.

    Reply
  4. James says

    August 9, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    Look, Social Security is not enough for most people to retire on without going into poverty and it will have serious financial problems in the future even at the current funding levels. If Trump's funding cut becomes permanent, it can cause even deeper financial problems for Social Security that can turn it into an ineffective source of retirement income., which is effectively the same as defunding it. So characterizing Trump's action as defunding Social Security is accurate for many people. And this is how the media should portray it, to accurately communicate the end result of Trump's action. No, Trump didn't exactly use the word "defund", but the end result will effectively be the same as defunding it.

    Reply
  5. Joseph Smith says

    August 9, 2020 at 2:01 pm

    Cutting Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes (which, you admit, Trump promises to do) will defund both programs. It may not *completely" defund them, but it does defund. And since Social Security and Medicare are both currently underfunded, Trump's promise will cause extreme damage to both programs. Shame, Shame, Shame on the Right-wing fake news for lying to Americans about what Trump did, and is promising to do.

    Reply
    • Sharyl Attkisson says

      August 10, 2020 at 8:44 am

      Shame on Sanders and others for fear mongering and falsely claiming Trump announced he would permanently defund social security. In terms of falsehoods, that's a ten for pants on fire. If it doesn't bother you, so be it, but that's what the article addressed. I'm not advocating one way or another about the actual move. I have covered in the past the problems as to what happened when payroll tax is cut, such as President Obama did. But an even bigger issue is even when payroll tax is not cut, social security is already going bankrupt and Congress raids the fund routinely for other purposes.

      Reply
      • Olivia C. says

        August 10, 2020 at 11:06 pm

        1. Cutting payroll taxes is not the same as eliminating them. While cutting them could put more strain on an already over-burdened system, eliminating them will cause a collapse which would mean that Trump doesn't HAVE to permanently eliminate them. The collapse would become inevitable.

        2. To accuse Sanders of Fear mongering when he is pointing out a legitimate issue contradicts your claim of "Non-Partisan" reporting, especially when your articles definitely skew towards support Trump regardless of hard evidence to contradict the claims of good governance through the policies he enacts. You've taken hard stances in several of your articals supporting him, despite hard evidence proving the negative of a lot of his statements.

        3. (Though it's technically more of a 2.5) It is utterly laughable that you bill yourself as a real report when the true purpose of a reporter is to give the real facts about what's going without any subjective opinion being given.

        With all that being said, if you some how missed the class on how to write without including your opinion, both blatantly and subliminally, I would be glad to rewrite this article as a true piece of news to show an example of actual bipartisan reporting.

        Reply
  6. Kim Campbell says

    August 9, 2020 at 2:10 pm

    Umm it still blasts a huge hole in social security funding in order to help Trump and his businesses not put in their share of that tax. Half of payroll tax is paid by the employer. Employees wouldn't see that money anyhow. It would just be less that big business had to pay out. Read bigger profits by 7.5 percent for them. And the 7 and a half percent that the employee pays? Best savings plan we have for retirement. It works. Only a man determined to profit personally no matter how many he throws into poverty would come up with this.

    Reply
  7. Susan says

    August 9, 2020 at 2:19 pm

    Speaker Pelosi is being interviewed by Chris Wallace, as I write this, and to be frank....she is SO phony. Now that's over thank God, Steven Mnuchin is coming on to enlighten us. In other words, with the truth or at least closer to the truth, to be fair. Pelosi actually said the President doesn't understand the depth of the problem. Yeah right. Insinuating he didn't do enough. WHAT? She's an idiot.

    Reply
    • Dr.ei este uxmar says

      August 9, 2020 at 11:03 pm

      That is an insult to idiots everywhere.

      Reply
    • Laurie says

      August 10, 2020 at 8:41 am

      She canโ€™t seem to keep her lies straight but she has Soros and his sensors to do that for him.

      Reply
    • Wanda says

      August 12, 2020 at 10:21 pm

      Youโ€™re an idiot if you trust Trump...

      Reply
  8. Charles Perrell says

    August 9, 2020 at 2:22 pm

    Dems once again do nothing good for working Americans, then lie when Trump does stuff to help

    Reply
  9. Shannon says

    August 9, 2020 at 7:58 pm

    Trumps, done and is doing more than any other would have done. Easy to judge when your not the one making the hard choices. No one could have done any better bc they didnt. Trump is smart, and puts american people first. Covid is and has been handled the best way possible, the treatment is in place and many lives are being saved. Trump isnt god, he's doing as good as the tools we have on a invisible enemy. #trump2020

    Reply
  10. Kenneth Feiler says

    August 9, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    He sid nothing of the sort... SSI payments by the employee would be deferred (and taxes) but the employer would still pay their matching half.... On the federal taxes not paid, he said they would be forgiven....and not have to be paid later. This would give the employed person quite a few extra dollars immediately... Usually the deductions come out to 30% or more....and As a matter of fact...the Dems already gutted the SSI "trust fund" many years ago. It used to be solvent... Now it is ALL gone and accommodations have to be made in the budget to cover it.

    Reply
    • IdahoFrank says

      August 10, 2020 at 2:48 pm

      Exactly!

      Reply
  11. RANDY JACOBSON says

    August 10, 2020 at 12:46 am

    If all Americans making under $104,000 don't have to pay payroll, SS or Medicare taxes no problem with keeping it solvent at the same tax rates for those making more.

    Good to know.

    Conservative voodoo economics at it's best. Maybe give Art Lafer a call.

    Reply
  12. Kelly Rushing says

    August 10, 2020 at 7:26 am

    Thank you for clearing that up for us. It is RARE to have a journalist who is honest and has some integrity!

    Reply
  13. SKWilson says

    August 10, 2020 at 8:12 am

    I have always been in favor of Americans saving their own money. My parents thought the government would take care of them and didnโ€™t bother to save anything! I have no idea how people think you can live on $403 a month! The government is NOT going to be your big daddy!

    Reply
  14. Monty says

    August 10, 2020 at 2:19 pm

    Why not call in those markers that Congress has stolen from SSI for so many years.

    Reply
  15. hugh says

    September 1, 2020 at 6:42 pm

    this boils down to math people making less than 104 thousand is the largest group contributing to social security., that makes this a severe cut in what is normally contributed to social security so it affectively defunds it or it puts it into suck financial difficulty it makes it a bigger problem than it needs to be. When you look at that group who contributes millions are without jobs another decrease in the funding. Both parties have seen fit to take money from the fund and not repay it kind of a lets take their money for our mistakes.
    Now I don't have to bad mouth trump when you honestly look at what he has accomplished and what he has destroyed or is in the process of destroying with out a real replacement plan it speaks for itself. But than again you have to believe in facts .
    SHARYL ATTKISSON is writing about partial facts twisting the truth to publish this crap. We can all agree both parties have taken money and not paid it back and never plan too, This question is what are we doing today and we are defunding those programs.
    Defunding is trump and those congressman and senators who follow him like lemming to the sea.

    Why not just stop paying all taxes except for social security and Medicare if they are not doing the people business why give them money or better yet why pay their salaries and outstanding parachute retirement package.

    Reply
    • hugh says

      September 1, 2020 at 6:44 pm

      spell check stinks so excuse the mistakes and I am sure after lessening to trump talk you are prepared to decipher
      thanks

      Reply

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