President Donald Trump walked into a carefully laid trap on Wednesday, when, in an interview on CNBC , he suggested he was open to cutting Social Security and Medicare.

Asked by Squawk Box host Joe Kernen whether entitlements a Washington term for universal social insurance programs would ever be on his plate, Trump responded that they would.

At some point they will be, Trump said in the interview from Davos, Switzerland. At the right time, we will take a look at that.

Its unclear if Trump even knew of exactly what he was speaking.

And the White House denied that was his intention. With no benefit cuts, President Trump is keeping his commitment to the most vulnerable Americans, especially those who depend on Medicare and Social Security, White House spokesman Judd Deere said.

But Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is vying for the chance to take on Trump as the Democratic presidential nominee, didnt waste time using it against him.

Over and over, Donald Trump promised Americans that he would not cut Social Security and Medicare. He lied, Sanders tweeted . When we win, were not going to just protect Social Security and Medicare, were going to expand them.

After HuffPosts story went live Thursday afternoon, Trump defended his record further on Twitter. Democrats are going to destroy your Social Security, he wrote . I have totally left it alone, as promised, and will save it!

Sanders shot back in a quote-tweeted message with a screenshot of an article documenting how Trumps budget resolutions have sought to cut the program. More lies, Sanders wrote.