White House Defends DOGE's Role in Social Security Fraud Audit
Karoline Leavitt defends DOGE's audit of Social Security against Democratic criticism, emphasizing the administration's aims to identify fraud and protect benefits for honest contributors.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the controversial role of DOGE in the upcoming Social Security audit while appearing on "Hannity." She criticized Democrats' contradictory stance on the issue.
Leavitt defended President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's objectives, highlighting that former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton also emphasized the necessity of eliminating waste and fraud from taxpayer-funded programs.
KAROLINE LEAVITT: "If you just watched that video but shut your eyes and listened to the words from those Democrat politicians, you would think you are listening to President Trump, Elon Musk, and our entire administration, who are saying the same things that Democrat politicians promised the American people for decades. President Trump is the first president in our lifetimes to actually deliver on these promises." She reiterated the administration's commitment to rooting out fraud from federal bureaucracy.
She said, "I want to set the record straight. President Trump has directed Elon Musk and the Doge team to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration. They haven't dug into the books yet, but they suspect that there are tens of millions of deceased people receiving fraudulent Social Security payments." Leavitt outlined three goals for this initiative:
- Identify and end duplicate payments.
- Identify payments going to deceased individuals.
- Protect the integrity of the Social Security system for honest contributors.
She assured viewers that those who have contributed to the system will continue to receive their benefits, urging them not to believe the misleading narratives from the media.
In recent weeks, Democrats have intensified their criticism of the Department of Government Efficiency and its head, Elon Musk, asserting that Trump's initiative violates the Constitution and prompting multiple lawsuits aimed at hindering the department's progress.
The White House countered these criticisms, noting that the goals of the new agency were once endorsed by prominent Democrats, including Biden and Obama. "We hope to instill a culture that will be pursued by every succeeding administration," Biden stated.
Polling data suggests that public opinion may lean toward supporting Trump and Musk's efforts. A Trafalgar Group survey indicates that 49% of respondents approve of DOGE's initiatives, whereas 44% disapprove.
Trump and Musk are set to discuss these topics in an exclusive interview with Sean Hannity tonight at 9 p.m. ET on Fox News Channel.
