Some desperately want Ivanka Trump to use her position to advocate for socially liberal policies. But for now, the president’s oldest daughter is more interested in talking about why the GOP-led tax bill that Congress just passed will make paying taxes so much easier while wiping out the national debt.
Except she’s wrong about when taxpayers will feel that relief.
While speaking on Fox and Friends on Thursday morning, Trump said she was excited to bask in the glow of the Republicans’ victory.
“The vast majority will be [doing their taxes] on a single postcard,” she said.
.@IvankaTrump: "I'm really looking forward to doing a lot of traveling in April when people realize the effect that this has… The vast majority will be [doing their taxes] on a single postcard." pic.twitter.com/D2bB7WgPIL
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 21, 2017
Except that’s not true since many of the changes won’t go into effect until the 2018 financial year (which means it won’t affect taxpayers until the early months of 2019) or in the years beyond that. Tax brackets will change on Jan. 1, 2018, but taxpayers certainly won’t be filling out any simple postcards this April.
Actually, @IvankaTrump, in April 2018 people will be doing their their 2017 taxes based on the current law. https://t.co/cZFiQ3QKJN
— Miranda Yaver, PhD (@mirandayaver) December 21, 2017
That led Trump to walk back her claim. People, she said, will be fantasizing about tax relief and not necessarily experience it.
Correct! All across America people will be thinking about how cumbersome the old tax code is & energized about upcoming simplification! https://t.co/HZZhmvK5Xc
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) December 21, 2017
Though various analysts and pundits have predicted the tax bill will add anywhere from $448 billion (the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation) to $2.2 trillion (the high estimate from the Wharton School) to the national debt, Ivanka Trump also said that the bill will actually eliminate the national debt entirely.
On Thursday, she explained why Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who had originally said he would not vote for a bill that added one cent to the $20.6 trillion national debt, had been persuaded to give his consent to this bill. Corker credited her with helping him decide on a “yes” vote, and on Thursday, Trump said that his concerns had been addressed. Trump also praised Corker, who her dad said two months ago couldn’t get elected as dog catcher.
“He felt his concerns were adequately addressed,” Trump said. “He really believes that tax relief, coupled with the administration’s deregulatory actions, will create the growth that will start to erode and ultimately eliminate the national debt that has been accrued over the last several decades.”
In June, Trump said she’d like to stay out of politics. But as her father and the GOP-majority Congress tries to sell the American people that this tax bill will be a great boon for them, she seems to be firmly entrenched in reciting his administration’s talking points.
H/T Business Insider