Pushing Tax Cuts for Wealthy Amid Disaster, Trump Rebuked for Exploiting Storm Victims
"After all," says one critic sarcastically, "nothing helps low- and middle-income people who have lost everything like a series of tax cuts mainly benefiting the rich."
A sign is posted outside a home following Hurricane Irma on September 12, 2017 in Key Largo in the Florida Keys. (Photo: Marc Serota/Getty Images)
Ahead of his planned trip to Florida on Thursday to visit areas ravaged by Hurricane Irma, President Donald Trump was fiercely rebuked Wednesday morning for once again exploiting the storm's extensive damage to demand tax cuts for the nation's corporations and wealthiest individuals.
With Irma and Harvey devastation, Tax Cuts and Tax Reform is needed more than ever before. Go Congress, go!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2017
Critics swiftly responded on Twitter, with many pointing out how the recent series of natural disasters demonstrates an urgent need for climate action, not giveaways for the nation's most privileged.
One wishes this were a parody... https://t.co/t7tUcztd4P
— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) September 13, 2017
I did an edit: With Irma and Harvey, Carbon Cuts + Tax Hikes on the rich needed more than ever to pay for devastation + the cost of denial. https://t.co/FvHJzcDeGK
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) September 13, 2017
Actually, those hurricanes suggest action on climate change is needed more than ever before.
— Miranda Yaver (@mirandayaver) September 13, 2017
EVERYONE: Can we please acknowledge the effects of climate change and plan for the future?
— Eric Essagof (@EricMEssagof) September 13, 2017
TRUMP: Nah, my buddies need tax cuts. https://t.co/6cSvmw1qcY
Anyone would think Trump stood to benefit from proposed tax cuts.
— Enough Of That (@AndyGilder) September 13, 2017
Bigly. https://t.co/mmIaHS7jdF
Some also noted that Trump's tax plan would negatively impact those who have been among the hardest hit by the wildfires and storms.
After all, nothing helps low- and middle-income people who have lost everything like a series of tax cuts mainly benefitting the rich. https://t.co/SBTt8JJGEc
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) September 13, 2017
Pushing tax cuts for the wealthy during multiple natural disasters is absurd policy that will hurt relief efforts. https://t.co/vejXw3ug22
— flippable (@flippable_org) September 13, 2017
This is the second time in the past week Trump has come under fire for using the recent hurricanes to call for "tax cuts." At a cabinet meeting on Saturday, as the storm was barreling toward Florida, Trump said, "with what's happened with the hurricane, I'm gonna ask for a speed-up" to pushing through his tax plan, a move that journalist and author Naomi Klein called "one for the shock doctrine record books."