FACT BRIEF

Is Donald Trump ‘threatening to slash Medicare’?

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

By Tom Kertscher

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Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly said during his 2024 presidential campaign that he would not cut Medicare, which is health insurance mainly for people age 65 and over.

January 2023: "Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security.”

March 2024: “I will never do anything that will jeopardize or hurt Social Security or Medicare.” That seemed to walk back comments Trump made a day earlier: “There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements.”

July 2024: Trump and the Republican Party in its platform pledged “no cuts” to Medicare.

The slash claim was made Aug. 19, 2024, by Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez at the Democratic National Convention.

A spokesperson cited news reports on Trump proposals as president to reduce Medicare spending.

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

New York Times Assessing Trump’s and Harris’s Attacks on Each Other

PolitiFact Kamala Harris says Donald Trump ‘intends to cut’ Medicare. This ignores Trump’s repeated pledges.

Reuters Trump warns U.S. House Republicans not to touch Social Security, Medicare

Breitbart Donald Trump: ‘I Will Never Do Anything that Will Jeopardize or Hurt Social Security or Medicare’

Forbes Trump Backtracks On ‘Cutting’ Social Security And Medicare—Vows He’ll Never ‘Hurt’ Programs

CNN Trump suggests he’s open to cuts to Medicare and Social Security after attacking primary rivals over the issue

St. Cloud Times Trump bashes Biden, Harris and promises to keep Social Security, Medicare at MN rally

Republican National Committee ICYMI: RNC Platform Committee Adopts 2024 Republican Party Platform

PBS NewsHour WATCH: Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rodriguez speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention | 2024 DNC Night 1

FactCheck.org Competing Claims on Trump’s Budget and Seniors

Washington Post GOP hopefuls’ past positions on Social Security loom over 2024 primary

Washington Post The Daily 202: Trump budget highlights disconnect between populist rhetoric and plutocrat reality

Washington Post No, every Trump budget did not seek to cut Social Security and Medicare

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