Inside the Capitol Hill complex on Tuesday, things got heated when Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia clashed with Alex Lawson, a campaigner for Strengthen Social Security. The confrontation took a dramatic turn when Greene grabbed a document from Lawson’s hands and threw it onto the floor. The paper? It was a campaign pledge from President-elect Donald Trump himself.
Here’s what happened: Lawson, who heads Strengthen Social Security—a group advocating for the protection and expansion of the program—approached Greene as she headed to the inaugural meeting of the new House Subcommittee for the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. This committee, chaired by Greene, has a big task ahead: cutting wasteful spending under the guidance of business figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Lawson’s goal was simple. He wanted Greene to commit to Trump’s promise of protecting Social Security and Medicare, a pledge Trump made during his campaign to win over blue-collar workers and seniors. Trump also vowed to end taxes on overtime pay and tips—proposals that critics, like the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, warn could worsen Social Security’s financial health. With over 72 million Americans relying on these benefits, any changes could ripple through the economy.
The interaction began when Lawson called out “congresswoman” to catch Greene’s attention. Instead of engaging calmly, Greene immediately accused Lawson of being tied to Democrats, saying, “We looked you up. You’re funded by Democrats.” When Lawson tried to clarify that his group is bipartisan, Greene wasn’t having it.
Lawson then held up Trump’s Social Security pledge, hoping it would resonate with Greene. But she interrupted, claiming his efforts were just part of a political agenda. Things escalated quickly. Greene snatched the papers, tossed them over her shoulder, and declared, “We don’t care.” When Lawson explained that the mailing was directly from Trump, Greene dismissed it, accusing him of using the document for partisan attacks.
Lawson tried again, asking Greene to pledge against cutting Social Security and Medicare. Greene refused, arguing that Republicans, led by Trump, had already assured voters of their commitment to these programs. “The American people elected Trump, his agenda, and Republicans because you guys suck so bad,” she shot back before heading into her meeting.
Outside the DOGE committee meeting, Colorado Republican Greg Lopez gave a more sobering take, acknowledging that cuts to Social Security and Medicare might be on the table despite campaign promises.
Lawson later shared his frustration, explaining how Greene’s reaction symbolized the broader issue. “When I tried to hand Representative Greene Donald Trump’s mailer, she refused to affirm she would keep his promise. She ripped the mailer out of my hands and threw it on the floor in disgust. That’s a pretty clear message about how they view campaign promises.”
The pressure is now on DOGE to identify $2 trillion in government savings, as Musk has claimed possible, without causing political fallout over Social Security cuts. For millions of Americans depending on these benefits, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
