Maga's Attack on Seniors May Backfire With Older Voters

WHO:

Alternet - 50 percent of U.S. seniors, defined as those who are 65 or older, voted for Trump in 2024.

Alternet - Kamala Harris was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024.

Alternet - Heather Digby Parton is a journalist for Salon.

WHAT:

Alternet - Seniors played an important role in getting Trump past the finish line in the 2024 election.

Alternet - Parton states that seniors could potentially doom Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

Alternet - Parton notes that crucial safety-net programs for seniors, such as Social Security and Medicare, were established by liberal Democratic presidents.

Alternet - Before Medicare was created, only 54 percent of elderly people had health insurance.

Alternet - Three years after Medicare was enacted, 96 percent of people over 65 had hospital insurance.

Alternet - Parton claims that the GOP has been undermining vital programs like Social Security and Medicare.

WHERE:

Alternet - The discussion involves U.S. seniors and their voting patterns.

WHEN:

Alternet - The Social Security Act was signed in 1935.

Alternet - The Medicare and Medicaid Act was signed 30 years later, in 1965.

Alternet - Ronald Reagan made a radio address in 1961, 20 years before he became president.

WHY:

Alternet - Parton suggests that the Republican focus on dismantling the safety net for seniors is puzzling given their voting patterns.

Alternet - Parton argues that the Republican war on the elderly has intensified, particularly due to Trump's immigration policies affecting caregiver availability.

HOW:

Alternet - Trump's immigration policies are reportedly shrinking the pool of workers who care for the elderly in assisted-living facilities and homes.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 15:40 UTC)

In the 2024 election, 50 percent of U.S. seniors, those aged 65 and older, voted for Trump, playing a crucial role in his victory, while Kamala Harris was the Democratic presidential nominee. Journalist Heather Digby Parton highlights that the Republican Party's efforts to undermine essential programs like Social Security and Medicare could backfire in the upcoming 2026 midterms, especially since these programs were established by liberal Democratic presidents. Parton also points out that Trump's immigration policies are reducing the number of caregivers available for the elderly, raising concerns about the well-being of seniors who rely on these vital services.