In Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign, he focused greatly on social programs. He vowed to protect Social Security, as well as other entitlements. “Save Medicare, Medicare, and Social Security without cuts. Have to do it,” said Trump in his June 2015 presidential announcement speech.
This campaign platform, in addition to his criticism of Mexican immigrants for bringing “drugs, crime and rape,” helped Trump to differ from Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate of the 2012 election. Trump’s campaign also stood out against that of Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio in 2016.
Trump’s position on immigration and entitlement programs, among other subjects, resonated with a great amount of Americans, more than any Republican candidate in recent history. He was the first Republican since 1988 to win Pennsylvania and Michigan, and the first since 1984 to carry Wisconsin. These victories ultimately helped Trump to win the general 2016 election.
However, Trump’s recently announced domestic budget, which will make cuts to several social programs, contradicts this vow to protect entitlements. These cuts could in fact hurt some of the very people who voted for him. Trump’s budget plans to reduce funding for Medicaid programs by more than $600 billion over the next ten years.
This cut is in addition to an $839 billion Medicaid cut in the House of Representative’s bill. According to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, the White House’s budget differs from the House’s bill because the White House used a formula allowing Medicaid spending to grow at a slower rate.
Trump’s budget will also reduce spending for Social Security, specifically its Disability Insurance. By making changes to disability programs, the White House plans to save about $72 billion over the next ten years.
Cuts will be made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as well. Trump plans to reduce the government’s food stamp funding by $193 billion over the next decade. It will also create stricter work requirements, aiming to ease able-bodied adults off of antipoverty programs.
In defense of Trump’s budget, OMB Director Mulvaney stated that Trump’s promise to protect Social Security only applied to retirement benefits. “If you ask 990 people out of a thousand, they’d tell you Social Security disability is not part of Social Security.”
Presidential budget proposals have traditionally been seen as political documents. Congress eventually makes many changes to the proposals. However, Trump’s budget differs from past presidential budgets in the way that it completely reverses a central campaign promise. In fact, it includes more of OMB Director Mulvaney’s beliefs than Trump’s campaign platforms.
According to Mulvaney, a former member of the House Freedom Caucus, better known as the Tea Party, “this is…the first time in a long time the administration has written a budget through the eyes of the people paying the taxes.” This greatly relates to the philosophy of the Tea Party, which called for reduced taxes, government spending and national debt.
Even more, Trump campaigned on draining Washington’s ‘swamp.’ But his administration has recently stopped an effort to disclose the names of former lobbyists who had been granted waivers to work in the White House or in federal agencies.
Several days ago the White House sent a letter to the head of the Office of the Government Ethics Walter Shuab Jr., asking Shuab to withdraw his requests for copies of the lobbyists’ waivers. Shuab had sent these requests to every federal agency. By doing this, the Trump administration challenged Shuab’s legal authority to request the waivers.
To add to the controversy around Trump this week, Trump may now be under investigation for obstruction of justice. According to a memo written by former FBI Director James Comey, who Trump recently fired, Trump asked Comey to end the FBI’s investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
In addition to asking Comey, Trump reportedly asked National Intelligence Director Dan Coats and National Security Director Mike Rogers in March to publicly say that there was evidence that Trump’s campaign had ties to Russia, influencing the 2016 election. This was shortly after Comey announced the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign.
Both of the top intelligence officials denied the request, and one of them wrote a memo about it, according to a former official. Coats and Rogers also exchanged notes about their discussions with Trump. Because of these events, Trump is now suspected of meddling with an ongoing federal investigation.
Nonetheless, President Trump remains on the defensive. His administration has stated that his proposed budget will lead to significant economic growth. It could bring trillions of dollars in revenue to the country, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
As for the FBI’s investigation, Trump has repeatedly asserted his innocence. “As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know- there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity,” he said in a written statement.
“I look forward to this matter concluding quickly,” Trump continued. “In the meantime, I will never stop fighting for the people and the issues that matter most to the future of our country.”
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