Vice President Kamala Harris is under fire from former President Donald Trump and his allies after she vowed to eliminate taxes on tips during a campaign rally in Las Vegas.
The Washington Examiner reported that this promise has sparked allegations from Trump that Harris is copying his campaign pledge, which he has championed as part of his platform. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to accuse Harris of adopting his idea for "political purposes."
Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., and several other conservative figures echoed these sentiments on social media, criticizing Harris for allegedly co-opting Trump's policy without following through on similar promises during her current tenure as vice president.
Harris’s promise to end taxes on tips, delivered during a campaign rally, immediately drew sharp criticism from Trump’s camp. Trump himself responded on Truth Social, accusing Harris of stealing his idea and questioning her commitment to implementing the policy.
He claimed that Harris was merely using the promise for political gain without any intention of actually eliminating the tax. In his post, Trump stated:
Kamala Harris, whose 'Honeymoon' period is ENDING, and is starting to get hammered in the Polls, just copied my NO TAXES ON TIPS Policy. The difference is, she won’t do it, she just wants it for Political Purposes!
Trump's remarks were supported by other prominent conservatives, including his political director James Blair and his son, Donald Trump Jr.
Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio questioned why Harris, in her role as vice president, has not yet implemented the tax policy she now promises as a presidential candidate.
Vance’s criticism was echoed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who labeled Harris a "fake candidate" making "fake promises." Greene noted that Harris has the authority to enact changes now but has failed to do so.
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk also weighed in, describing Harris as a "shameless phony" for allegedly stealing Trump's proposal.
The backlash from Trump’s supporters highlights the contentious nature of the campaign trail as candidates vie for support with competing policy promises.
At the Las Vegas rally, Harris emphasized her commitment to working families and service industry employees, stating that she would raise the minimum wage and eliminate taxes on tips if elected president. This promise, however, has been overshadowed by the allegations of policy plagiarism from Trump’s camp.
Trump has positioned himself as the original advocate for eliminating the tax on tips, and his supporters have been quick to defend his stance, framing Harris’s pledge as an attempt to mimic Trump’s platform. The controversy surrounding this issue illustrates the intense scrutiny candidates face as they present their policies to voters.
The ongoing exchange between Harris and Trump underscores the competitive nature of the 2024 presidential campaign. Harris’s pledge to eliminate taxes on tips has drawn fierce criticism from Trump and his allies, who accuse her of copying Trump’s ideas for political purposes. As the campaign progresses, both sides continue to defend their positions, with Trump’s supporters emphasizing his role as the original advocate for this policy.
