Image Credit:© Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK
CNN anchor Abby Phillip was corrected on live television this week after she falsely suggested that Elon Musk, through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was planning to cut Social Security and Medicaid benefits.
The correction came from former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who was present at a rally where Musk spoke.
Phillip’s comments, made during a segment on CNN, referenced Musk’s involvement in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election.
“It is true that he spent twenty million dollars on the affiliated groups that were involved in this race. Not only did he spend the money—he came to the state. He talked about cutting Medicaid, Social Security through DOGE.”
Walker, who attended Musk’s rally, immediately pushed back against Phillip’s claims.
“He explicitly said he would not! No, no. Other people said that. I was there! I watched it! He did not say he was going to cut Medicaid.”
Despite Walker’s direct correction, Phillip attempted to clarify by suggesting that others at Musk’s rallies, working for DOGE, had discussed cutting Social Security and Medicaid.
“Other people at his rallies who work for DOGE, who work for Elon Musk’s organization, talked about those issues,” she said.
However, Walker remained firm in his response, reiterating that no one at the rally, including Musk, made any statements about cutting these programs.
“No, I was at the rally. Not a one of them said that!”
Phillip shifted the conversation, bringing up the issue of fraud involving deceased individuals receiving Social Security benefits. “It’s not true that 120-year-old people are getting Social Security checks,” she said. “The checks stop at a certain point automatically.”
Walker clarified that the issue was not about people directly receiving benefits after their death, but rather about how deceased individuals’ Social Security numbers are counted in federal government data.
“Those Social Security numbers get counted for various parts of the federal government,” Walker explained. “They count… for money that gets allocated to different departments in their budget. And they shouldn’t be if somebody is no longer alive.”
Walker also warned of the potential risks of misinformation.
“There are [risks], if people believe the lies that people are saying about that.”
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was launched by President Donald Trump in early 2025 and placed under Musk’s leadership. Its goal is to eliminate wasteful government spending and enhance accountability across federal agencies.
Musk has repeatedly stated that the department would not reduce essential programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
Despite these assurances, some media figures, including Phillip, have continued to frame DOGE’s initiatives as an attack on the elderly and low-income Americans, particularly when it comes to potential cuts to Social Security and Medicaid.
Critics argue that outlets like CNN are misleading the public and stoking fear about benefit cuts that are not actually on the table.
Walker, recalling his own experience during a recall election as governor of Wisconsin, noted that when he shifted his focus from responding to the media’s narrative to directly addressing voters, he won by a larger margin than in his first election.
“Make it abundantly clear that that’s not being touched,” Walker urged. “But if there’s waste, fraud, or abuse, spell it out, make the case, and bring it to the voters.”
The back-and-forth on CNN highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding government efficiency and spending reform, as well as the role of media in shaping public perception of proposed policy changes.
As DOGE continues its work, Walker emphasized the importance of transparency and clear communication to ensure that Americans understand the department’s true mission.
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