Like most elected officials, Donald Trump recognizes that Social Security is vital to the financial well-being of our nation's retirees. But he's not oblivious to the fact that altering Social Security comes with potentially negative ramifications. While speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March 2013, Trump said:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has promised sweeping actions in his second administration. The president-elect has outlined a wide-ranging agenda that blends traditional conservative approaches to taxes, regulation and cultural issues with a more populist bent on trade and a shift in America’s international role.

President-elect Donald Trump's plans to protect Social Security benefits could give retirees more money in their pockets, but it could also deplete the program's funds more quickly over the long term.