Billionaire Trump Aide Uses Mom-in-Law, 94, to Defend DOGE Social Security Cuts

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said his 94-year-old mother-in-law wouldn’t be worried if she didn’t receive her Social Security check one month.

Lutnick argued that the only people upset about DOGE head Elon Musk targeting Social Security are fraudsters abusing the system.

“Let’s say Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who’s 94, wouldn’t call and complain,” he said during a Thursday appearance on the All-In podcast. “She just wouldn’t. She’d think something got messed up and she’ll get it next month.”

Public records suggest that his mother-in-law, Geri Lambert, lives with Lutnick and his wife Allison, at his Upper East Side townhouse in Manhattan. If that is the case, she is unlikely to be relying on Social Security for rent or mortgage payments.

Lutnick, who was nominated to the role by President Donald Trump, amassed a fortune worth around $1.5 billion over more than 30 years as the CEO of the investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald. He stepped down from the position in February when he was confirmed as commerce secretary.

“A fraudster always makes the loudest noise screaming, yelling, and complaining,” the commerce secretary continued. “Elon knows this by heart… The easiest way to find the fraudster is to stop payments and listen, because whoever screams is the one stealing.”

This month, Musk signaled his intention to sic DOGE on the Social Security system. Although he has said he is just looking for waste and fraud, critics are concerned that he could use this as a pretext for making substantial cuts.

News broke last week that DOGE was considering a plan to scrap the call-in service for filing Social Security claims, forcing claimants to use a computer—but Musk backed off after widespread outcry. The goal was purportedly to reduce fraud, but millions of Americans, especially the elderly, rely on the phone service.

It isn’t the first eyebrow-raising statement Lutnick has made in support of Musk—even this week.

On Wednesday, Lutnick appeared on Fox News and urged viewers to “buy Tesla” stock, which has been plummeting amid protests against Musk’s efforts to reshape the federal government. Musk is the CEO of the electric vehicle manufacturer.

He called Musk “probably the best person to bet on I’ve ever met,” saying: “It’s unbelievable that this guy’s stock is this cheap.”

Last week, Trump announced that he was buying a Tesla and held a showing of various Tesla models on the White House lawn—apparently as publicity for Musk’s company.