Trump falsely says Stelson opposes tax relief on tips and overtime

Donald Trump urged voters on 29 October to re-elect Republican congressman Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th district, accusing Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson of opposing tax relief on tips, overtime and Social Security. He predicted that if Stelson and the Democrats gained power, “all of these things will be terminated”.

Trump’s Truth, an archive of his social media posts, records that he published the same message on 27 October. The election is on 3 November.

But in written answers published by Pennsylvania broadcaster WITF on 5 October, Stelson said: “I support cutting taxes for hardworking people, including no tax on tips or overtime, which I would vote to make permanent.” Her campaign website repeats that position. Stelson is not a member of Congress and has not voted on the law.

Trump also accused her of wanting “Open Borders” and “Men playing in Women’s Sports”. Her campaign says she opposes open borders and believes transgender women should not be allowed to play in women’s sports.

Stelson has criticised the wider 2025 tax and spending law, arguing that its benefits favour corporations and wealthy earners rather than workers, and that it increases the federal deficit. Perry defended his support for the package and cited her criticism in his own WITF answer.

In July 2025, Perry was among 218 Republicans who voted for the bill in the House of Representatives; all 212 Democrats voted against it. That was a vote on the entire package, not a separate vote on its tips and overtime provisions.

Democrats have also supported other proposals for tax relief. In May 2025, the Senate passed a separate bipartisan tips bill without objection after Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen urged that it be considered apart from the wider package. Democratic Representative Angie Craig introduced a separate proposal to remove Social Security benefits from taxable income; it was not the same as the later deduction for older taxpayers.

Stelson has promised not to cut Social Security benefits, but that does not establish her position on the separate deduction for older taxpayers.

The law Perry supported provides limited federal income-tax deductions, rather than a blanket exemption. Eligible workers can deduct up to $25,000 in qualifying tips. The overtime deduction covers the qualifying premium above the normal rate of pay, up to $12,500, or $25,000 for a joint return. Income limits and other conditions apply.

For eligible taxpayers aged 65 or over, the law provides an additional deduction of up to $6,000. It can reduce or eliminate an individual’s income-tax bill, but it did not generally abolish income tax on Social Security benefits, according to the Congressional Research Service.

All three deductions are scheduled under the existing law to end after the 2028 tax year unless extended. Congress could change them, but neither the vote on the broader package nor Stelson’s stated positions establish that a Democratic election victory would terminate all three.