Asked How to Save Social Security Without Cutting Benefits, Harris Turns to Trump, Then: 'Those Who Follow Him ... Not His Voters' (October 21, 2024)

Two weeks before Election Day, a Wisconsin voter gave Vice President Kamala Harris a clear menu of choices on Social Security. “There have been a lot of suggestions for improving or protecting it, some of them raising the age for full acceptance of Social Security. There’s also the idea that we would end the cap on — on the Social Security tax. There is also the suggestion that we raise the tax rate on both Medicare and Social Security. And, of course, the last one is to reduce the benefits,” Carolyn Mitchell of Wauwatosa said [1].

“So, my question for you is: How can we protect the health of both Social Security and Medicare without reducing the benefits?” Mitchell asked [1].

Harris started with Donald Trump. “Actually, just today, I believe it was — within the last 24 hours or so — an independent review of Donald Trump’s policy on Social Security has indicated that, under his policy, Social Security would become insolvent in six years,” she said [1].

The video above shows Harris at a campaign event with former Rep. Liz Cheney in Brookfield, Wisconsin, on Oct. 21, 2024. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”My Plan Includes What We Need to Do”

Harris then went to Project 2025. “If you look at Donald Trump’s Project 2025, the — the plan that they have if he is elected — or reelected president, it — it would attack Social Security. It would attack Medicare,” she said [1].

When she got to her own plan, she did not pick any of the voter’s options. “So, my plan includes what we need to do to strengthen the solvency of Social Security. It includes what we’re going to need to do and work with Congress to make sure we’re putting more into it. And it cannot be about cutting benefits, because right now, those benefits are barely adequate as it is,” Harris said [1].

She moved on to drug prices. “So, in the last four years, we have now capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors,” she said [1]. “And we’ve also capped the cost of — of prescription medication at $2,000 a year for our seniors, understanding, again, that this is a related issue,” Harris said [1].

Then she told the crowd about trips to Canada for cheaper prescriptions, and caught herself. “This is a huge issue for so many who have otherwise either taken a bus trip to Canada to try and get their prescription medication — you’re smiling; you know what I’m talking about — or — not that you have; I’m not suggesting that. (Laughter.) I’m not suggesting that,” Harris said [1].

She then promised Medicare coverage for home care. “And so, my plan includes having Medicare cover home health care work for seniors — (applause) — so that you can stay in your home, for example, and have someone who can prepare a meal and help you put on a sweater,” Harris said [1].

She explained why. “Right now, the only way that there will be coverage for home health care is, generally speaking, Medicaid, which means that the family or the individual would have to spend down all of their savings to be able to be eligible for Medicaid,” she said [1].

”Welcome Home”

Harris had opened the evening with a story about the state’s Democratic governor. “Every time I — I land in Wisconsin — almost every time, Tony Evers, the governor, will meet me on the tarmac. And because I did live in Wisconsin when I was five years old, every — (applause) — he will say, ‘Welcome home,’” she said [1].

”Not His Voters, But Just Others”

Later, the moderator, Charlie Sykes, asked about “the coarsening of the culture.” Harris answered by going after Trump’s camp, and then corrected herself mid-sentence [1].

“The notion over the last several years coming from Trump and those who follow him, meaning people like who he’s running with — not his voters, but just others — the notion that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down is just wrongheaded,” Harris said [1].

”You Shouldn’t Make That Guy the President”

Cheney, who campaigned with Harris that night, put it more bluntly earlier in the event. “Like, if you wouldn’t — if you wouldn’t hire somebody to babysit your kids, like, you shouldn’t make that guy the president of the United States,” Cheney said, to laughter and applause [1].

By the Numbers

4: options the voter laid out for Social Security [1].
6 years: the insolvency claim Harris made about Trump’s policy [1].
$35: the monthly insulin cap Harris cited [1].
$2,000: the yearly prescription cap for seniors Harris cited [1].
10: Wisconsin electoral votes, all won by Trump [2].

What Happened Next

Wisconsin went for Trump. Two weeks later, Trump carried Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes and won the presidency, 312 to 226, according to the National Archives [2].

Seniors got a tax break. On July 4, 2025, Trump signed Public Law 119-21, which allows “a deduction in an amount equal to $6,000 for each qualified individual” age 65 or older, for tax years beginning before Jan. 1, 2029 [3].

For Harris in North Carolina the year before, see HYGO News’ page on Charlotte.