Trump Suggests Eliminating Income Tax, Ignores Who Actually Pays Now
Donald Trump recently proposed replacing the federal income tax with tariffs, a move Newsweek reports as a bold new tax plan. This isn't just about 'simplifying' the tax code; it's a direct assault on the principle of progressive taxation. Eliminating the income tax disproportionately benefits the wealthiest individuals, many of whom, like Trump himself, have a documented history of minimizing
their income tax obligations through various loopholes. One might recall the New York Times reporting that Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017 (source: The New York Times, Sept. 27, 2020). This 'new' idea is an old trick: shift the burden from capital gains and high earners to everyday consumers via import taxes. It's a sleight of hand that ensures the working class
pays more for basic goods, while the billionaires get yet another tax holiday. Conveniently, the mainstream media simply reports the proposal, rarely bothering to remind viewers of its likely regressive impact or the proposer's own tax history.