In a shocking interview on the “All-In” podcast, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a billionaire businessman with an estimated net worth of $2 billion, made controversial remarks about Social Security and the people who rely on it. Lutnick, who serves in the Trump administration, came under fire for suggesting that only “fraudsters” will complain if they don’t get their earned benefits.
Lutnick, speaking with hosts who are fellow billionaires, suggested that seniors who depend on Social Security would not protest missing payments. “My 94-year-old mother-in-law wouldn’t call and complain,” he said. “She’d think something got messed up, and she’ll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling, and complaining.”
Lutnick’s callous remarks have ignited outrage across the nation, particularly from advocates for vulnerable seniors. Richard Phillips, pensions and tax policy director for Bernie Sanders’ Senate Committee, blasted Lutnick’s statement as “shameful,” pointing out that nearly 40% of seniors rely on Social Security for the majority of their income. For many of them, missing a check could mean the difference between survival and struggle.
Lutnick’s rhetoric comes at a time when the Trump administration is already pushing to dismantle Social Security and other vital programs. Just as tech mogul Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has referred to Social Security as a “Ponzi scheme” and called for massive cuts, Lutnick echoed these dangerous views. “What we have to do is stop sending money to someone who’s not hurt, who’s on disability for 50 years,” he claimed, furthering the false narrative that fraud runs rampant within Social Security.
The reality, however, is that fraud within the program is minimal compared to the immense need of its beneficiaries. Public Citizen, a watchdog group, sharply criticized Lutnick, stating that it’s not “fraudsters” who would be the loudest to complain, but the millions who depend on Social Security to buy food, pay rent, and keep a roof over their heads. “Someone who depends on Social Security to survive is far more likely to shout when their check is late,” the group pointed out.
Lutnick’s comments are not just insensitive—they are part of a broader, deliberate effort by the Trump administration to restructure the Social Security Administration (SSA) and gut essential services. Thousands of SSA workers are expected to lose their jobs, and the agency has announced plans to close offices and impose burdensome requirements, such as in-person identity verification, all in the name of cutting costs. These moves disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, further isolating them from the benefits they’ve earned.
BREAKING: In a shocking moment, Trump Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says his 94-year old mother-in-law wouldn't complain if her Social Security check didn't arrive, and only loud "fraudsters" would complain about it. This is vile.pic.twitter.com/JSmgUZncM4
— Really American 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) March 21, 2025
Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) responded by highlighting how Lutnick’s remarks align with the administration’s efforts to undermine Social Security. “Trump and Musk’s cuts to the Social Security Administration could lead to the delay, denial, and disruption of your EARNED BENEFITS,” Larson warned. “For 40% of our seniors, Social Security is the only income they have. They can’t just wait for their next check.”
Lutnick, however, has shown no remorse for his comments. Instead, he doubled down, rejecting proposals to raise the retirement age and insisting that the solution to Social Security’s solvency lies in cutting “waste, fraud, and abuse” rather than raising benefits. “I find it disgusting when we’re the richest country in the world, and some politician says in order to save Social Security, rather than getting rid of the waste, fraud and abuse, we should move it to 70,” Lutnick said, dismissing the reality that millions of seniors depend on these benefits to survive.
These comments are a stark reminder of the growing chasm between the wealthy elite and the American public. As the Trump administration continues to push its agenda of deep cuts to essential programs, political leaders are increasingly warning that the true “fraud” isn’t the beneficiaries of Social Security, but the billionaires and politicians attempting to gut it. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) pointed out the obvious: “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.”
Lutnick’s words are a glaring symbol of the deep ideological divide in America over the future of Social Security. While billionaires and Trump allies push for cuts, lawmakers and advocates argue that the program is a vital lifeline for millions of struggling Americans.
