Trump cabinet billionaire insults Social Security seniors who need their checks
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that older Americans could be “fraudsters” if they complained about not receiving their Social Security checks.
Lutnick, a wealthy financier who was CEO at the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has been touting President Donald Trump’s hardline trade policies for weeks. During an episode of the “All-in” podcast, he suggested that those complaining about not receiving their benefits could be committing fraud.
“Let’s say Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month. My mother in law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain. She just wouldn’t. She’d think something got messed up, and she’ll get it next month,” he said. “A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining.”
“Anybody who’s been in the payment system and the process system knows the easiest way to find the fraudster is to stop payments and listen, because whoever screams is the one stealing,” he added.
He said that older Americans would not complain because they “trust” the government.
More than 72.5 million people in the U.S. receive benefits from the Social Security Administration. A recent survey from Bankrate found that 77% of retirees surveyed said they are relying on their Social Security to pay for necessary expenses, CNN reported last year.
Lutnick was quickly criticized online for his comments, with many noting that he is a billionaire who is suggesting that older Americans should not complain about missing a Social Security check. Lutnick has an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, according to Bloomberg.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) suggested the Trump administration was gearing up to gut Social Security.
“They are getting ready to destroy Social Security. Because the billionaires don’t need it.Prepping the ground here by shaming people who dare complain if their Social Security check disappears,” he wrote.
The Lincoln Project said on social media platform X that Lutnick’s comment was “insane.”
“WTF. This is insane. For so many seniors, there would be no money for food, rent, or prescriptions without their Social Security check. @howardlutnick says if they complain about missing a check, they’re a fraudster,” the tweet said.
And organization Public Citizen wrote: “You know who actually makes the loudest noise? Someone who depends on Social Security to buy groceries. Someone who depends on Social Security to pay rent. Someone who depends on Social Security to survive. But billionaires like Howard Lutnick don’t care about those people.”
Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been targeting the Social Security Administration over potential fraud but has offered little evidence of widespread wrongdoing.
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