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Cory Booker@CoryBooker · Feb 11, 2025

Trump, Elon, and their allies are calling all spending they don't like "fraud." Spending on things like consumer…

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Summary

Trump and Elon Musk are falsely labeling government spending on consumer protection, Social Security, and foreign aid as "fraud" to consolidate power. In reality, these programs return billions to defrauded Americans, provide earned benefits to millions, and address national security threats, with foreign aid comprising less than 1% of the federal budget.

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  1. #1

    Trump, Elon, and their allies are calling all spending they don't like "fraud." Spending on things like consumer protection, Social Security, and medicine for sick kids. But just calling something "fraud" doesn't make it so. Here are the actual facts 🧵⤵️

  2. #2

    They claim that America's consumer protection agency is "a woke and weaponized agency against disfavored industries and individuals." This is a lie. CFPB sues scammers, fraudsters, and predatory lenders who get rich by exploiting people. It's returned about $20 billion to Americans who've been cheated – and it stops bad actors from targeting you and your family.

  3. #3

    They claim that Social Security benefits are a "ripoff," and that the Social Security Administration is stealing your tax dollars. This is a lie. Americans earn their Social Security with their hard work – paying into it with every paycheck. 68 million Americans rely on it every month, and it's among the most popular federal programs in existence.

  4. #4

    They claim that our leading foreign aid agency is a "criminal organization."  This is a lie. USAID was established by JFK and a bipartisan act of Congress. It protects our national security by: 1️⃣ Addressing instability in regions where terrorism can thrive 2️⃣ Responding to crises that drive mass migration and destabilize neighboring countries 3️⃣ Preventing the spread of infectious diseases before they reach our shores. It's less than 1% of the federal budget. Even Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it “essential to our national security.”

  5. #5

    Donald Trump and Elon Musk want you to believe that they're brave and noble truth-tellers who are taking on a corrupt system to protect you from harm. They're not. They're corrupt billionaires who are trying to consolidate their own power by lying to you and hoping you won't notice. Don't let them.