In a recent interview with CNBC, former President Donald Trump indicated his openness to making cuts to entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, a departure from his previous stance on the issue. Trump's remarks came in response to a question about addressing the national debt by tackling entitlement programs.

Trump acknowledged that there were possibilities for cuts and improvements in managing entitlements, referring to the "theft and bad management" within these programs. However, his campaign spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, clarified that he was specifically referring to cutting waste rather than essential benefits.

Leavitt emphasized that Trump had delivered on his promise to protect Social Security and Medicare during his first term and would continue to do so if elected for a second term. She argued that the real threat to these programs came from Joe Biden and reiterated Trump's commitment to rebuilding the economy and securing Social Security and Medicare for future generations.

During his presidency, Trump's administration proposed budget cuts to Social Security, primarily targeting disability benefits, and Medicare, mainly through reducing provider payments. Additionally, Trump expressed his openness to cutting federal entitlements to address the federal deficit in a 2020 interview with CNBC.

However, Trump has consistently pledged to defend Medicare and Social Security during his current campaign. He criticized his former GOP rivals, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, for their support of entitlement program reforms, including raising the retirement age and privatizing Social Security.

President Joe Biden swiftly responded to Trump's comments, declaring, "Not on my watch." Biden, in his State of the Union address, committed to preventing any reductions to these programs and raised concerns over proposals from Republicans that could impact the future of Social Security and Medicare.

The latest Social Security trustees report indicates that without changes, the program's combined trust funds will run dry by 2034, leading to an 80% coverage of benefits. The Medicare Part A trust fund, which provides hospital insurance, is projected to have the ability to pay scheduled benefits in full only until 2031, resulting in 89% coverage.

The Congressional Budget Office attributes the projected rise in deficits to the aging population and increasing federal healthcare costs, necessitating greater spending on Social Security and Medicare.

While Trump has shown a willingness to cut Medicaid enrollment and reduce federal funding for the program, he has since distanced himself from calls to ban TikTok, a popular social media app. Trump previously supported a ban on TikTok but mentioned during the interview that he left the decision to Congress. Recently, a bill has been advanced by a House committee that could potentially ban TikTok nationwide unless it is separated from its China-linked parent company, ByteDance.

Trump also expressed his support for tariffs during the interview, stating that they give the US power in international relations. However, Biden has presented a different perspective on trade policy.

As the presidential campaign continues, the contrasting positions on entitlement programs between Trump and Biden will be a significant topic of discussion, with Biden asserting his commitment to protect Social Security and Medicare while Trump faces criticism over his evolving stance on these vital programs.