Trump, GOP considerations of millionaire tax hikes make ‘no sense,’ ex-aide says
A former top aide in President Donald Trump’s first administration is speaking out against Republican efforts to raise taxes on wealthy Americans, arguing that it would be detrimental to job creators and small businesses.
Marc Short, who played a key role in negotiations for Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), criticized the push within the current administration to increase the top tax rate. Short emphasized that many small businesses file taxes as individuals, meaning that raising taxes on high earners would also impact small businesses.
“I don’t understand why there are some inside the current administration who are pushing Congress to raise the top rate, because again, these are America’s job creators,” Short said.
He expressed concern that raising taxes on individuals making $2.5 million or more could have negative consequences for small businesses and hinder economic growth. Short also questioned the effectiveness of proposed tax cuts for tips, overtime pay, and Social Security checks for retirees, describing them as “gimmicky” and potentially burdensome for businesses to comply with.
Short’s comments come as Congressional Republicans work on a comprehensive piece of legislation that Trump has dubbed his “big, beautiful bill.” The legislation aims to address a range of policy areas, including tax reform, border security, immigration, energy, defense, and the national debt. The tax policy portion is expected to be the costliest, with House negotiators looking to identify areas to cut at least $1.5 trillion to offset new spending.
While some conservative groups, such as the Heritage Foundation and Americans for Prosperity, are opposed to raising taxes on high earners, others believe that Congress should focus on tightening its own belt rather than burdening taxpayers. Richard Stern of the Heritage Foundation warned that increasing the top tax rate could discourage hard work and entrepreneurship, while Americans for Prosperity’s Brent Gardner emphasized that raising taxes on any American should be off the table.
In response to Short’s remarks, the White House has not provided a statement. As discussions around tax policy continue, it remains to be seen how the Trump administration and Congress will navigate the complex issue of taxation and economic growth.
