Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, highlighting his campaign promise to eliminate taxes on tips, a key issue for hospitality workers. Addressing approximately 1,000 supporters at the Circa Resort & Casino, Trump reiterated his commitment to the policy but did not provide specific details about its implementation. Instead, much of his 40-minute speech celebrated his recent election victory, criticized the Biden administration, and touted his executive actions during his first week back in office.
Trump, the first Republican to win Nevada since George W. Bush in 2004, focused on his promise to support hospitality industry workers by removing taxes on gratuities. “We’re going to get it for you — ‘no tax on tips,’” he told the enthusiastic crowd, reinforcing the priority of the initiative for the Republican-led tax package expected this year.
Nevada, a state with the highest concentration of tipped workers, was an apt location for the announcement. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country has approximately 2.24 million restaurant servers, with tips comprising a significant portion of their income. In Nevada alone, tipped workers include wait staff, valet parkers, hotel maids, and casino dealers, all vital to the state’s 24-hour economy.
Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Nevada’s Culinary Union, welcomed the proposal but urged Trump to also address the $2.13 sub-minimum wage, which still exists in many states. He emphasized that eliminating gratuity taxes and addressing wage disparities would uplift millions of hospitality workers nationwide.
While the rally emphasized taxes on tips, it also served as a victory lap for Trump’s recent election. He detailed executive actions, including freezing foreign aid, withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, and ending federal diversity programs. Trump described these actions as reversing failures of previous administrations, declaring, “We’ve accomplished more in one week than most administrations in four years.”
The rally concluded with Trump walking through the Circa casino to cheers from supporters, many chanting, “USA, USA.” Trump is expected to meet with House Republicans on Monday to discuss the legislative strategy for his administration’s agenda.
