Tommy Tuberville

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor, has repeatedly called Social Security a “scam.”

On April 16, an X account asked users to “name a huge scam that has been normalised.”

“Social Security,” Tuberville posted from his official account.

On Monday, a spokeswoman said Tuberville stands by 2024 remarks about the state of the entitlement program.

“He believes Social Security is a complete scam,” Mallory Jaspers told AL.com.

READ MORE: Social Security rule change could mean an extra $1,000 a month for some beneficiaries

A challenger in the governor’s race was quick to note the comment.

“Tuberville says Social Security is a scam. Everyone in Alabama needs to call BS on that!” Doug Jones, who is running to be the Democratic nominee, posted.

About 75 million people in America currently receive monthly checks from Social Security, with an average amount of about $2,000. It is the country’s oldest and largest anti-poverty program.

But the program is running out of money.

In 2024, on the floor of the Senate, Tuberville praised President Donald Trump’s handling of Social Security. And he criticized the fact that retirees pay taxes on the original wages and are taxed again when they receive benefits.

“Here’s the sad truth: the American people don’t have any confidence that they will see all the money they paid into Social Security over the years,” he said.

Trump has adjusted the standard deduction for some senior citizens and has made some non-citizens ineligible for Social Security benefits.

In separate remarks, Tuberville criticized the federal government’s overall budget, which he has voted on, and suggested that taxpayers might be better off if they were able to put money paid into Social Security into the markets instead.

“It’s impossible because what happens, it comes up here, we spend it; we’re $35 trillion in debt. We don’t have any of your money; we’re dead broke.”

Social Security could run out of reserves as early as 2032, according to administrators. The program wouldn’t end, but would only be able to pay beneficiaries about 75% of their benefits.

In order to fix the shortfall, Congress would need to cut benefits, raise payroll taxes or find some other kind of fix.

Senators elected to Congress in 2026 would be among those who would be responsible for addressing the issue.