Social media post mischaracterizes Sen. John Thune’s comments about potential Social Security cuts

President-elect Donald Trump will establish a nongovernmental advisory committee to ax regulations and cut government spending — and all federal programs are on the table, according to some Republican leaders. But some social media users are falsely claiming that the incoming U.S. Senate majority leader has already targeted Social Security. 

"BREAKING: After meeting with Elon Musk, Republican leader Sen. John Thune announces plans to cut Social Security," an X post shared Dec. 5 on Instagram read. "Hands off our earned benefits!" 

The post came after high-profile business executives Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, whom Trump tapped to lead what he dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency, met with lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 5 to brainstorm what might be on the chopping block.  

The original X post had a video clip about Musk and Ramaswamy’s Capitol Hill visit.

In it, Julie Tsirkin, NBC News’ congressional correspondent, reported that incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., met with Musk and then told her that "perhaps mandatory programs are areas that they’re looking to make cuts in, like Social Security for example."

Actor and comedian D.L. Hughley, whom we’ve fact-checked before, added a caption to the Instagram post in all capital letters: "Everyone Gen-X and younger that voted for this … I hope y’all have room for pawpaw and granny!!!"

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

(Screenshot from Instagram)

But the clip doesn’t say that Thune announced plans to cut Social Security, and we found the full report, which shows that Tsirkin’s report added context. 

"Everybody today — both who’s met with Musk and Musk himself — have said that they’ve just been talking in general terms, and that the public’s money should be spent wisely," Tsirkin said. 

She also listed examples of potential cuts that were discussed. 

Featured Fact-check

Facebook posts

stated on November 14, 2024 in a Facebook post

Elon Musk has invented a small gadget to slash energy bills.

"There were questions about cuts to defense spending, to the military — Susan Collins, for example, earlier told me she does want to make sure that our military has the adequate readiness level, but that there are potentially some areas that they could cut," Tsirkin said, referring to the Republican U.S. senator from Maine. "John Thune, who is the senate incoming Republican leader, who also met with Elon Musk this morning, told me perhaps mandatory programs are areas that they’re looking to make cuts in, like Social Security for example."

She continued: "But, again, no specifics were laid out there — only that reforms have to happen as Musk and Ramaswamy get their meeting underway that is happening right now, with lawmakers on both ends of the Capitol."

We contacted Thune’s office and spokesperson Ryan Wrasse said the claim was untrue.

Thune "hasn’t made any announcements or released any plans to cut Social Security," Wrasse said. "Quite the opposite — he believes it’s a crucial program that must remain viable for current and future retirees."

A review of Thune’s press releases since Dec. 5 showed no mention of plans to cut Social Security. 

Regardless of what Musk and Ramaswamy’s advisory group might recommend, it's unclear whether Trump would support a proposal to cut Social Security. 

Before the 2024 campaign, Trump expressed openness to Social Security overhauls, including cuts or privatization. In March, Trump said "there is a lot you can do" in cutting entitlement programs such as Social Security, PolitiFact reported. But Trump walked back his March comment and generally maintained during the 2024 campaign that he wouldn’t cut Social Security. 

A post referring to a news segment said, "After meeting with Elon Musk, Republican leader Sen. John Thune announces plans to cut Social Security."

The post included a truncated segment of an MSNBC news clip that misled about Thune’s remarks. He told a reporter that Musk and Ramaswamy may look to cut "mandatory programs" such as Social Security. The full version of the news report  said no specific plans to cut Social Security were outlined. 

Thune’s spokesperson said the senator hasn’t released plans to cut the program, and we found no evidence he’d announced plans to cut Social Security.

We rate this claim False. 

RELATED: Mike Johnson’s Pants on Fire claim that 1% of federal employees are ‘actually working in the office’

RELATED: 'Transgender monkeys'? Musk highlights misleading posts in push for new Government Efficiency group