In a recent interview with Breitbart News, former President Donald Trump sought to clarify his stance on Social Security and Medicare, assuring the public that he would never jeopardize or harm these essential entitlement programs. Trump's comments came in response to rival Joe Biden's criticism of his previous remarks suggesting potential cuts to these programs.

"We'll have to do it elsewhere," Trump stated, indicating that while there may be areas open to budget cuts and waste reduction, he would not allow any measures that would harm Social Security and Medicare. The former president emphasized that his commitment to protecting these programs remained unwavering.

These remarks followed an earlier interview on CNBC where Trump appeared open to exploring changes to entitlement programs, sparking criticism from Biden's reelection campaign. However, Trump's campaign quickly pushed back, asserting that his words had been taken out of context and distorted. They also shared past videos of Trump vowing to safeguard the entitlements.

The issue of entitlements demonstrates the political potency perceived by both candidates. Trump's original comments on CNBC were highlighted by Biden's campaign to portray Trump as a threat to these programs. Conversely, Trump's campaign accused Biden of cherry-picking snippets from the interview instead of presenting the full context.

In the original CNBC interview, Trump was asked about his outlook on handling entitlements, considering the ever-increasing national debt. Trump responded by mentioning the potential for cutting waste and inefficiency but made it clear that he believed the mismanagement of entitlements posed a risk to Social Security. He further expressed his disagreement with the statement and stressed the need to protect these programs.

Trump reiterated this point in his interview with Breitbart, stating that there were numerous areas where cuts and waste reduction could be implemented, without endangering Social Security. He criticized the country's weak management of entitlements while emphasizing his commitment to their protection.

On social media, Trump's campaign criticized the Biden campaign for selectively sharing parts of Trump's CNBC interview, instead of sharing the complete exchange. They argued that Trump was referring to cutting waste, fraud, and abuse, rather than cutting the benefits of seniors.

Biden, in a speech in New Hampshire, used the CNBC interview as evidence that Trump still posed a threat to entitlement programs. The White House also weighed in, stating that Trump's comments aligned with his budget proposals during his presidency, despite his claims of misrepresentation.

During his 2024 campaign trail, Trump promised to safeguard retirement programs and actively campaigned against Republican challengers, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, who had suggested entitlement reforms to reduce the national deficit.

Congress will eventually need to address the funding shortfall of Social Security, which currently supports 65 million Americans. However, finding a bipartisan solution that both parties can agree on remains a challenge, as lawmakers are also grappling with long-term battles over government spending and the debt ceiling.