Donald Trump pledged to eliminate taxes on Social Security payments for seniors, a move that would cut levies for some elderly Americans but further strain benefits for those who have yet to retire.
"Seniors should not pay taxes on Social Security and they won't," Trump said at a rally on Wednesday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Trump's pledge to cut taxes for elderly Americans, a key voting bloc, comes as the Republican nominee tries to recalibrate his campaign to focus on Vice President Kamala Harris rather than President Joe Biden, who quit the race on July 21.
Trump has struggled to find an effective messaging strategy against Harris, employing attacks with racist and sexist overtones and invoking antisemitic tropes.
Trump, who earlier Wednesday questioned Harris' embrace of her black identity in a personal and vitriolic attack, pivoted to an economic pitch, saying she would "totally destroy our Social Security system." He also panned her for being weak on immigration and supporting efforts to "defund the police."
Tax Promises
The former president has made tax cuts a central promise of his campaign, but has shared few details. He's pledged to renew his 2017 cuts on individuals and small businesses, which are set to expire next year, as well as eliminate taxes on tipped income.
That's a plan that could appeal to younger voters who are more likely to work in hospitality jobs, but the idea has been widely panned by economists.
Eliminating taxes on retirement benefits is also likely to draw criticism.
Wiping out those levies would increase the deficit by up to $1.8 trillion through 2035, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
The group also said it would speed up the rate at which the trust funds would face shortfalls and retirees would see their benefits cut. Federal projections show payments are on track to be reduced starting in 2035.
