DeSantis has since reversed himself, assuring in recent months that Republicans are "not going to mess with Social Security."
Tens of millions of U.S. seniors depend on Social Security and Medicare benefits, and that number is growing as the population ages.
Strong majorities of U.S. adults across the political spectrum consistently say they oppose cutting Medicare and Social Security benefits.
But many others, including party leaders, have bristled at accusations that the GOP wants to gut Social Security and Medicare.
"Social Security, I would do the same thing," he added.
Persons:
Mike Pence's, Ron DeSantis, Pence, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, DeSantis, Trump pollster, Donald Trump's, Steven Teles, Teles, Andrew Caballero, reynolds, We're, Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, meanwhile, Biden, Sen, Rick Scott, Mitch McConnell, Scott's, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Elise Stefanik, Jonathan Ernst, Andrew Bates, Paul Ryan, Ryan, Mitt Romney's, Barack Obama, Lady Casey DeSantis, Peter Zay
Organizations:
Social Security, Republican, Florida Gov, GOP, Great Society, White, Republican Party, Johns Hopkins University, Niskanen, Team Trump Volunteer Leadership, Grimes Community, AFP, Getty, Social, Medicare's, Insurance, Former South Carolina Gov, Republicans, Senate, U.S . Rep, U.S, Capitol, Reuters, Anadolu Agency
Locations:
Grimes , Iowa, South Carolina, Ky, Washington , U.S, Congress, Lexington, SC