Trump says Democratic-led states will become ‘ghettos’ because the rich are fleeing high taxes

Trump says Democratic-led states will become ‘ghettos’ because the rich are fleeing high taxes President Donald Trump warns blue states that ask corporations and higher-income households to make a greater contribution will be left with ‘no people, no money, no hope’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments President Donald Trump has claimed that states run by Democrats are destined to become tomorrow’s “ghettos,” with “no people, no money, no hope,” if they continue to tax wealthy corporations and individuals. “Rich people and Companies are pouring out of Dumocrat run Blue States at levels never seen before!” the president wrote on Truth Social Tuesday morning. “If this trend continues, these States will become the ‘Ghettos’ of the Future – No people, no money, no hope. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump’s post came in response to a Just the News story claiming that a “high-tax exodus” is underway in the Midwest, pointing to True Value Hardware recently announcing that it is moving its corporate headquarters away from Chicago to Fort Wayne, Indiana, echoing the Chicago Bears relocation to Hammond in the same state. The right-wing outlet argues that Illinois risks becoming as “business-repellent” as California and New York unless it changes its ways. “True Value joins the ranks of other longtime Illinois companies like Boeing, Tyson Foods, Morton Salt and Caterpillar [in leaving], the latter of which pointedly cautioned that the state’s inability to balance the budget and lower taxes would drive out businesses,” it states. The president issued a similar warning in a post back in April. “Job-producing people and companies are being forced to flee at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote at the time. “Remember, once people and companies leave, they are never coming back.” Just the News also cites the “U-Haul Growth Index” on company relocations, saying its latest data “shows an overwhelming number of entrepreneurs and workers ditching Illinois and California for the greener pastures of Texas and Florida.” The likes of North Carolina, Tennessee and Arizona are also serving as sanctuaries from “high taxes and regulatory strangulation,” the index suggests. The report further notes that Charles Schwab, Hewlett-Packard, Chevron, Public Storage and Elon Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX have all left California in recent years for more favorable tax climates. Trump has had regular run-ins with the likes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his Illinois counterpart JB Pritzker, as well as other Democratic governors, over everything from natural disaster responses and urban crime to the presence of ICE agents taking part in his federal crackdown on undocumented migrants. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s surprise triumph in last year’s New York City mayoral election and the subsequent success of leftist candidates in other votes has meanwhile given Republicans fresh cause for concern ahead of this November’s midterms. That has led to renewed cautions against the dangers of left-wing policymaking from Trump and other influential MAGA voices, as well as an increase in personal attacks on popular progressives like New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. However, despite the cost of living remaining high and providing a major source of worry to voters, Pew Research found last year that a majority of the American public nevertheless still believes that asking corporations and higher-income households to contribute more is the right way to deliver improved public services and a fairer society. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments