During his visit to Capitol Hill, former President Donald Trump dismissed calls to expand federal deductions for state and local taxes (SALT), saying such tax breaks mostly benefit Democratic led states like California, New York, and Illinois.
Speaking before a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on the party’s major budget reconciliation bill, Trump said demands for higher SALT deductions were being driven by Democratic governors, specifically calling out California Gov. Gavin Newsom. whom he referred to as “Newscum.”
“These are Democrat states they’re all Democrat states,” Trump said, emphasizing that the “biggest” beneficiaries of expanded SALT relief would be Democratic leaders, not everyday taxpayers.
The issue has become a sticking point for some blue state Republicans who see SALT relief as a key concession in ongoing budget negotiations.