During a Tax Day press call organized by the Democratic National Committee, Representative Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts criticized President Donald Trump’s administration, labeling it a “tax scam” and accusing it of prioritizing the wealthy over American families. According to Pressley, Trump, who is in the early days of his second non-consecutive term, has not fulfilled his 2024 campaign promise to reduce costs for the working class.
She questioned whether costs have decreased and whether housing has become more affordable, challenging the influence of high-profile individuals like Elon Musk on economic policies. Pressley asserted that the administration’s focus was never on enhancing quality of life or reducing expenses for essentials like groceries and education but was always about gaining and misusing power, jeopardizing civil rights, and economic freedom.
Pressley also criticized congressional Republicans, referring to them as enablers of the Trump administration, alleging that they contribute to harm by working to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is set to expire at the end of the year. In addition, she opposed Trump’s tariff proposals and criticized the Department of Government Efficiency’s extensive layoffs and federal spending cuts, arguing that true efficiency involves enhancing government services for the public benefit.
The discourse also involved other Democrats, including DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta and former Labor Department chief economist Heidi Shierholz, who also criticized Trump’s tax plans. Kenyatta expressed that small business owners have been negatively affected by Trump’s policies. Meanwhile, Shierholz warned about the potential economic downturn that could result from Trump’s tariffs and budget cuts, which might lead to significant job losses and cuts to social programs like Medicaid and Social Security.
Despite these criticisms, the White House has affirmed that there will be no cuts to Social Security under Trump’s administration. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump is committed to protecting Social Security benefits for American citizens and seniors. This statement was part of her response during a Tax Day press briefing where former President Joe Biden was mentioned as preparing to address challenges facing the Social Security Administration.
