The Force That Holds Trump’s Coalition Together
Atlantic3 days ago
Trump Rejects GOP Millionaire Tax Hike After Internal Debate
Above: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with media outside the White House in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2025. Image copyright: Saul Loeb/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
The tax increase would have helped fund middle-class tax relief while demonstrating the GOP's commitment to working Americans. This populist approach could have defanged Democratic attacks on Republicans as the party of the wealthy and addressed fiscal concerns about the growing national debt without cutting essential programs.
Pro-Trump narrative
Raising taxes on successful Americans would violate core Republican principles, hurt economic growth, and prompt wealthy job creators to leave the country. The proposal represents a dangerous drift toward socialist policies that would damage the party's traditional pro-growth, low-tax platform.
Democratic narrative
The GOP is unlikely to start taxing the rich, as the alliance between party libertarians and national Republicans remains strong. Even though Trump's trade war is creating challenges, abandoning their core tax principles could jeopardize their unity. While some Trump supporters might consider this change, it is unlikely to occur.