Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that the so-called “Trump accounts” created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could be a “backdoor for privatizing Social Security.”

The comments, made during an appearance on the Breitbart podcast, are sure to provide fodder for Democrats, who have long accused Republicans of seeking to privatize the retirement programs. Many high-profile Republicans, especially President Donald Trump, have been careful in recent years to avoid any suggestion that they would cut or privatize Social Security.