Trump Tells Vegas Crowd He’ll Dump Taxes on Casino Tips

Posted on: June 9, 2024, 07:49h. 

Last updated on: June 10, 2024, 09:41h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Myths.

At an excruciatingly hot Las Vegas campaign rally on Sunday, Donald Trump proposed eliminating the taxes currently levied by the IRS on tips.

Donald Trump addresses thousands of his supporters in Las Vegas on Sunday. (Image: Newsweek)

“When I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips,” Trump told thousands of his supporters outdoors in Las Vegas’ Sunset Park, where the mercury reached 103° F.

We’re going to do that right away,” he continued, “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.”

The presumptive Republican presidential candidate knew his audience, since the heavily service-tilted casino industry is Las Vegas’ largest employer by far, providing approximately 300K jobs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This was the price list to attend a Las Vegas fundraising dinner for Trump’s 2024 campaign on Saturday night. (Image: Scott Roeben/Vital Vegas)

Both Trump and his presumptive Democratic opponent, President Joe Biden, are concentrating on getting out the vote in Nevada and other critical swing states prior to November 5.

Trump’s speech came a day after a Las Vegas fundraiser thrown for him by local construction tycoon Don Ahern, at which tickets were priced at up to $844,600 per couple.

Nevada has gone blue in the last four consecutive presidential elections. However, in 2020, it seemed a lot more purple, with Biden carrying the race by just two points.

Skewered by Culinary

Less than an hour after Trump’s speech, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 — which represent 60K workers at casino resorts in Las Vegas and Reno — released a statement savaging Trump.

For decades, the Culinary Union has fought for tipped workers’ rights and against unfair taxation,” said Culinary Secretary Treasurer Ted Pappageorge. “Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, but Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.”

The rally was Trump’s first since his historic conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush-money trial less than two weeks ago.