Overview

• Elon Musk, head of the Trump-created Department of Government Efficiency, suggested eliminating waste and fraud in entitlement programs during a Fox Business interview, sparking backlash.
• Musk referred to Social Security as the 'biggest Ponzi scheme of all time' and linked entitlement spending to undocumented immigration, echoing controversial 'replacement theory' rhetoric.
• The White House issued a statement reaffirming that President Trump will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, emphasizing Musk's comments were misinterpreted.
• Critics, including some GOP operatives and Trump allies, warn that cuts to entitlement programs could alienate key segments of Trump's voter base, particularly older and working-class Americans.
• The incident highlights growing tensions between the Trump administration's populist and plutocratic factions over entitlement reform and government spending priorities.