Musk frames retired people in parasitical terms, not seeing them as those who have paid their dues and have earned their reward. In light of that, when he speaks of "waste" in Social Security, he's hinting at this broader view that retired people are inherently illegitimate.

The involvement of Antonio Gracias, an investor who has known Elon Musk for two decades, suggests that Mr. Musk has made overhauling the Social Security Administration a priority.

“The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits. President Trump himself has said it ( over and over and over again),” the White House said in a fact sheet this week.. Experts do worry about other risks to the system, thanks to threats President Donald Trump and Musk have been making.