Trump in Las Vegas touts no taxes on tips, is confident he’ll win Nevada

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump stood in a Las Vegas restaurant on Friday afternoon with a “NEVADA IS TRUMP COUNTRY,” graphic displayed to his left, expressing full confidence that he will win the state this November.

“I don’t know how the hell we could lose it,” Trump said about the Silver State, where he was defeated in 2016 by Hillary Clinton and in 2020 by President Joe Biden. “I’ve never seen such support.”

He was in town to tout his “no tax on tips” proposal, saying the concept he proposes originated after a conversation with a waitress here and has become a cornerstone of his campaign.

Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent, also expressed support for the idea, and bipartisan legislation in Congress is in the works that is supported by Nevada senators, both Democrats.

“Kamala Harris is now pretending to endorse my policies,” Trump said. Much of the conversation around ending tax on tips focuses on Las Vegas because of its large-scale tourism industry and union labor presence. Culinary Union Local 226, which has endorsed Harris, represents 60,000 hospitality workers in the state.

Leain Vashon, vice president of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, said Trump’s promises “mean absolutely nothing to anyone with any sense.”

“To throw out ‘no taxes on tips’ sounds really good to a lot of people who are working for tips, me included,” said Vashon, who also works as a bell captain at Paris Las Vegas. “But what are the details of that plan? And who are you bringing along?”

Trump said it’s counterintuitive for the union to support Harris, and that the rank-and-file members should back him instead.

“I’m a lot better, and so I’m the one that got this thing done,” he added.

When Nichole Williams heard Trump’s proposal to not tax tips she said she “screamed in delight.”

Williams has served as a bartender for 15 years on the Strip, and while she loves the work, said her family had to cut back on finances and struggles to make ends meet.

“Hearing it from the president himself was amazing,” said Williams, who was volunteering at a June rally at Sunset Park where Trump initially pitched the idea. On Friday she had a better spot — next to Trump on he restaurant stage.

Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald said the Biden administration has held office since January 2021 but hasn’t done anything to help workers who rely on tips.

“Your actions speak louder than your words,” said McDonald, whose guests for the event weren’t registered Republican voters because it’s important for bipartisan conversations to take place, he said.

Trump additionally touched on a variety of topics during his 52-minute speech, including his appreciation for third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who suspended his presidential bid Friday and endorsed Trump’s campaign.

Trump also talked about Harris, insisting her speech Thursday in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention failed to discuss policies or topics with substance.

“She didn’t mention the border, she didn’t mention inflation, she didn’t mention crime,” Trump falsely asserted.

“She didn’t mention any of the things that she’s supposed to be mentioning, but she mentioned Trump 21 times or some crazy (number),” he continued.

While Harris didn’t touch on specifics about economic policies, she spoke on her desires to strengthen access to women’s reproductive health care, enact legislation to strengthen gun safety and lower the cost of living. She also underscored the importance of border security, saying Trump influenced lawmakers to kill a bipartisan border security proposal.

“Let me be clear: After decades in law enforcement, I know the importance of safety and security, especially at our border,” she said in her convention speech. “Last year, Joe (Biden) and I brought together Democrats and conservative Republicans to write the strongest border bill in decades. The Border Patrol endorsed it. But Donald Trump believes a border deal would hurt his campaign, so he ordered his allies in Congress to kill the deal.”

After the invitation-only event, which had an audience of about 40 people, Trump left Las Vegas for a late-afternoon rally in suburban Phoenix. There, he was expected to officially pick up the endorsement of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

 

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