Trump Signals Support for Taxing Wealthy Amid GOP Pushback

President Donald Trump has signaled openness to raising taxes on the wealthy as a way to fund tax cuts and benefits for lower- and middle-income Americans, a stance that diverges from traditional Republican orthodoxy. He expressed willingness to give up some of his own wealth and described the move as a form of wealth redistribution and good politics, dismissing concerns that it would replicate George H.W. Bush's politically damaging 'Read my lips: No new taxes' pledge. However, Trump has sent mixed messages, privately urging GOP leadership to consider a new tax bracket for incomes over $2.5 million and closing the carried interest loophole, while publicly expressing concern about potential political blowback from the party's conservative base. This internal tension reflects broader divisions within the Republican Party over tax policy and funding for President Trump's agenda, complicating efforts to draft a unified domestic policy bill. Trump's wavering on the issue underscores the challenge of balancing populist and traditional GOP fiscal priorities amid legislative negotiations.