Trump poised to 'make matters worse' for 73M Americans: analysis

President Donald Trump is about to make matters worse for the 73 million Americans who are on Social Security, according to MSNBC Opinion Editor James Downie.

His remarks come after the Social Security Board of Trustees announced the program will run out of money in 2034.

“Soon enough, Social Security will face a funding crisis — and President Donald Trump’s approach will only make matters worse,” Downie said.

According to reports, Social Security's finances were last "overhauled" in 1983. That's also when the program started to send out more than it took in.

To circumvent overspending, Social Security began taking money out of its savings, aka its two trust funds, “One for disability benefits and a much larger one for retiree and survivor benefits,” Downie said.

This money has allowed 73 million Americans to receive their full benefits since 1983. When the program runs out of money, those checks will become a lot smaller.

“What has the president done about this?” Downie rhetorically asked. “Trump has plunged ahead with policy proposals that, as I wrote last fall, risk moving the depletion date closer.”

Downie then raged at the GOP for their thoughts on fixing the program. “When Trump and his allies do talk about Social Security, they say they’re going after ‘waste, fraud and abuse.’”

“If ‘waste, fraud and abuse’ can’t make ends meet, what do Republicans have to offer?” Downie went on to say, “If you guessed ‘cuts,’ you’re right. Last spring, then-candidate Trump told CNBC, 'there is a lot you can do' to cut Social Security.'”

It’s a move 79% of Americans do not like.

“Social Security won’t go bankrupt, but its funding shortfall is approaching in much the same fashion.” Downie said, “And unless Trump acts with uncharacteristic sanity, the next president and the accompanying Congresses will have to clean up the mess he helped make.”