Donald Trump’s attack on Medicare and Social Security should not come as a surprise to anyone.

It’s unclear if President Donald Trump has the authority to suspend payroll taxes by executive action, which he tried to do over the weekend.

If he is successful, however, it would be a direct attack on Medicare and Social Security benefits, which are funded by those taxes and by employer contributions.

Which is what Trump really wants to do.

His action will be challenged, and not just by Democrats. Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska said Trump "does not have the power to unilaterally rewrite the payroll tax law. Under the Constitution, that power belongs to the American people acting through their members of Congress."

Trump has admitted wanting to go after these programs before. The current situation has provided him with a convenient excuse.

I noted this back in March in the blog I’ve copied below:

Taking scissors to safety net

(From March)

That sinking feeling you’ll get if Donald Trump is elected to a second term will be caused by plummeting through the hole in your safety net. The one he plans on cutting.

Social Security … snip, snip.

Medicare … snip, snip.

Medicaid … snip, snip.

In his most recent town hall among some friendly hosts from FOX News the president was asked about plans for his next term, should he be reelected. He spoke of how he believes the economic growth will be tremendous. One of the hosts cut in, saying, “But if you don’t cut something in entitlements …”

And Trump interrupted, saying, “Oh, we’ll be cutting.”

The president’s mostly silent press secretary, Arizona’s own Stephanie Grisham, tried to soften the blow by asking people not to hear what they actually heard, tweeting, “Fake news — POTUS was taking about cutting deficits, NOT entitlements.”

Actually, no.

He was talking about cutting entitlements.

And it isn’t the first time he’s said this.

Recurring theme: Cut the safety net

While at a World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a get-out-of-town trip during his impeachment trial, Trump was asked by CNBC if cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are on his radar.

“At some point they will be …” Trump said. “At the right time, we will take a look at that.”

Then, there’s Trump’s own budget, as explained by a conservative Wall Street Journal article:

"The White House proposes to cut spending by $4.4 trillion over a decade. Of that, it targets $2 trillion in savings from mandatory spending programs, including $130 billion from changes to Medicare prescription-drug pricing, $292 billion from safety-net cuts – such as work requirements for Medicaid and food stamps – and $70 billion from tightening eligibility access to federal disability benefits."

The president has said this stuff again and again.

Believe him and know this:

While you’re hanging by a thread, he’s oiling up the scissors.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.