Dear John,

While campaigning, Donald Trump repeatedly assured Americans there would be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid -- despite proposing cuts to these programs in every budget he submitted in his first term.

Given his track record of deception, Trump’s campaign promises hold about as much weight as a junk stock on the verge of collapse.

Now, Trump has handed Elon Musk sweeping, unchecked power to reshape the government to his liking -- and Musk has made it clear he is under no obligation to back Trump’s commitments on these critical programs.

For years, Republicans have played a double game when it comes to Social Security. In public, they posture as defenders of the benefits Americans have worked their entire lives to earn. But behind closed doors, while courting billionaire donors, they discuss ways to cripple these programs -- all at the expense of seniors, disabled Americans, and working families.

Trump himself exposed his true lack of commitment in a CNBC interview last March, when he admitted that “there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting.” Translation? He’s ready to slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid anytime it’s politically convenient. Believing Trump’s empty words is no strategy for protecting the benefits millions depend on.

Tell every member of Congress to take the pledge: No Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid!

There’s a reason politicians don’t campaign on cutting Social Security: nearly 92% of Americans oppose it.

It’s known as the “third rail” of politics: Touch it, and it will kill you. Yet, Trump and his allies have spent millions spreading false claims that Kamala Harris was the one endangering these programs -- even though Trump himself repeatedly proposed billions in cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid in every budget of his first term.

Now, as the Trump administration gears up to shower corporations and billionaires with yet another round of gargantuan tax cuts worth trillions of dollars, Musk has been given the task of "balancing the budget" -- and the only way to find that kind of money is by slashing Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Let’s be clear: these programs are not giveaways -- they are earned benefits that millions of Americans have paid into their entire working lives.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Any changes to Social Security must happen in full public view, through regular congressional order -- not in secret, backroom commissions designed to chip away at our safety net.

Tell Congress to take the pledge -- No Cuts, No Backroom Deals, No Broken Promises!

It’s time to hold Congress accountable in this era of Trump’s “alternative facts.”

Thank you for contacting your representatives today.

Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action