During a campaign stop in Las Vegas on Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled [1] a promise to eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers.
This proposal, however, drew sharp criticism from former President Donald Trump, who accused Harris of copying one of his key policies.
To be clear, the Harris campaign has not laid out one policy until now and the first one they choose is TRUMP’S? https://t.co/1mVRxpWHPE [2]
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) August 11, 2024 [3]
Harris made the promise while addressing a crowd in Nevada, a state known for its high concentration of tipped workers. “It is my promise to everyone here, when I am President, we will continue our fight for working families of America, including to raise the minimum wage and eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers,” Harris declared.
Trump, who has been championing the same policy for months, quickly took to Truth Social to criticize Harris. “Kamala Harris, whose ‘Honeymoon’ period is ENDING, and is starting to get hammered in the Polls, just copied my NO TAXES ON TIPS Policy,” Trump posted. “The difference is, she won’t do it, she just wants it for Political Purposes! This was a TRUMP idea – She has no ideas, she can only steal from me.”
Trump first introduced the no-tax-on-tips proposal during a campaign event in Nevada back in June [4], before Harris replaced Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket.
🇺🇸 PRESIDENT TRUMP: “When I get into office, we’re not going to charge taxes on tips—people making tips.”
This is HUGE NEWS, and will help millions of struggling families across the country.
pic.twitter.com/vg2wa6MCKM [5]— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 9, 2024 [6]
In response, Harris dismissed Trump’s claim, accusing him of only serving the interests of the wealthiest Americans. “If he is elected, Donald Trump intends to give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations. He intends to cut Social Security and Medicare, and he intends to surrender our fight against the climate crisis,” Harris said.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, echoed similar sentiments in his speech, suggesting Trump would manipulate the economy to benefit the rich at the expense of the middle class. “Trump will rig the economy so the middle class gets nothing and the rich get richer,” Walz asserted.
While the Harris-Walz campaign praised the no-tax-on-tips proposal, even some supporters acknowledged the resemblance to Trump’s policy. “Sounds like a positive thing. I mean, it’s the same thing Trump said, isn’t it?” remarked Tammy Campa, an appraiser and former busser.
The Harris-Walz event, held at the Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Nevada, drew an estimated 12,000 attendees, though the top tier of the arena remained closed, leaving about 25% of the seats empty. The stadium has a full capacity of up to 19,500.
As usual, people at the Kamala Harris rally began leaving in DROVES as soon as she took the stage 🤣
Almost like they didn’t actually come to hear her speak or something 🧐 pic.twitter.com/bSMNbcnVbA [7]
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 11, 2024 [8]