As Older Americans Month Begins, Seniors Struggle Under Trump Arrow

Donald Trump promised to lower costs and protect seniors' benefits, but instead he has left America's seniors behind and forced them to dip into their hard-earned savings to make ends meet as his reckless policies drive up prices and slash programs they rely on.

Trump and Republicans' "One, Big Beautiful Bill" cut $1 TRILLION from Medicaid - the largest cut in history - which 4.4 million seniors rely on for long-term care coverage. Health care costs for seniors are also set to increase. Medicare Part B premiums - which are usually deducted from Social Security benefits - rose by nearly 10% this year, eliminating roughly one-third of seniors' Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

Reminder: Trump promised to protect Social Security, but multiple administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, admitted that Trump's Big Ugly Bill is a "backdoor" for privatizing Social Security. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz similarly suggested raising the retirement age to fund Trump's tax cuts for billionaires.

In response, DNC Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin released the following statement:

"Under Trump, seniors are being forced to dip into their hard-earned savings to afford basic necessities like groceries, gas, and lifesaving care, while their Social Security and Medicaid benefits are slashed. Our seniors should be able to live comfortably with the benefits they worked their whole lives to earn, not robbed of them just so Trump can pay for tax handouts for the wealthy and well-connected. Democrats are committed to lowering costs for seniors and ensuring they can retire in dignity."

While Trump tries to spin his agenda and tout the "No Tax on Social Security" provision in his budget bill, it's another hollow promise - the reality is nearly two-thirds of seniors already don't pay taxes on their Social Security benefits, and millions of seniors will continue to owe taxes despite the provision. To make matters worse, the COLA adjustment for 2026 was set at 2.8% but has already failed to keep up with skyrocketing inflation this year, with prices set to increase even more due to Trump's tariffs and disastrous war with Iran.