Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump is heading to Long Island, armed with a promise to “get SALT back” and save the day for over-taxed New Yorkers. For those who may not be familiar with the acronym, SALT stands for State and Local Tax Deductions, which allows taxpayers to deduct their local tax payments from their federal taxable income. Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Trump capped SALT at $10,000—a decision that many higher-tax state residents, especially in New York, certainly noticed.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his determination to undo the “wrong” he enacted back in 2017. He claimed he could not only restore SALT but also lower taxes and turn New York’s economy around to heights unseen in half a century. That’s quite the promise, but one can almost hear the collective eye rolls from the Democrats who have already labeled him a tax villain. Apparently, the former president should sleep with one eye open when it comes to handing out tax breaks in a state dominated by party lines.
Trump says he’ll reverse the policy on state and local tax deductibility that he signed into law in his tax bill if he’s elected again. pic.twitter.com/LdIIz9CxDN
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) September 17, 2024
To no one’s surprise, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wasted no time expressing skepticism toward Trump’s plans. He seems to believe that Trump is simply trying to pull one over on Long Island families who may still feel the pinch of that SALT cap. According to Schumer, Trump’s arrival is nothing more than a “pretend” show of support for the very deductions he previously slashed. This is the same old song and dance from Democrats who seem to think they can lecture conservatives on tax policies from the lofty perch of high taxation.
Meanwhile, some brave Republicans, like Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, could be seen trying to rally support by posting images of salt shakers on X (formerly Twitter). The Republicans in New York have been working hard to lift the SALT cap, but just like a flailing fish out of water, their efforts fell flat in the House earlier this year. Existing in a state where taxes are higher than the average IQ, one has to wonder how willing New Yorkers will be to cut Donald Trump any slack this time around.
Trump doesn’t seem too bothered about the Democratic doom and gloom forecasts, though. His rally is slated to take place at Nassau Coliseum, and he promised it would be “PACKED with Patriots.” He boldly proclaimed that New Yorkers have a real chance to shift the political dynamics in the state for the first time in decades. With a wink and a nudge, he implores conservatives across New York to pull the lever for him because, hey, what do they have to lose? Based on the reaction from local Democrats, it looks like they’ll be losing plenty of sleep ahead of his visit.
Whether or not Trump can truly “get SALT back” remains to be seen. Still, one thing is certain: the political theater in New York continues to be a veritable circus, with plenty of popcorn moments for amused conservatives everywhere.
