Trump Promises to Strike Down Taxes on Tips

Donald Trump has made an exciting promise that is sure to pique the interest of casino and hospitality workers. At his latest rally, the former president promised to eliminate taxes on tips.

As things stand now, the IRS takes a cut from all tips provided to workers. Since tips are a lifeline for many people in the sector, eliminating taxes on tips would greatly benefit the employees of casinos, hotels, restaurants, etc.

During the Sunset Park meeting, the ex-POTUS promised that the contentious taxes would be removed so that people within the hospitality industry could feel more rewarded for their services. Under the scorching-hot Nevadan sun, Trump announced that striking down taxes on tips would be one of his office’s priorities.

We’re going to do that right away first thing in office because it’s been a point of contention for years and years and years and you do a great job of service. You take care of people.

Donald Trump

Trump’s decision to announce his intention to remove the taxes on tips during his rally in Las Vegas is likely no coincidence. Considering the size of the city’s gambling and hospitality industries, there could have been no better place to make this announcement.

For context, data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the city is singlehandedly employing some 300,000 people. As a result, Trump’s promise is certain to resonate more with the locals than it would have resonated elsewhere.

Many Workers Were Skeptical

While Trump’s words are certain to sway at least some people, the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and the Bartenders Union Local 165 were very skeptical of his promise.

An hour after the former president’s speech, members of the unions released a statement on the matter. Culinary secretary treasurer Ted Pappageorge acknowledged the fact that tipped workers deserve more and have been taxed unjustly for years. However, Pappageorge added that “Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.”

Speaking of Trump’s recent conviction, the ex-POTUS was found guilty on 34 charges of first-degree falsification of business records. Despite being the first former president to become a convicted felon, Trump continued to dominate the political betting markets, receiving even more support from his backers.  

While Trump has definitely been gaining traction once again, it is unclear whether his promise would be enough to convince the majority of people in Nevada to vote for him. Nevada has been a predominantly blue state over the past few elections, although the Republicans have been narrowly closing the gap.