Trump’s tax attack on Ohio Democrat lacks evidence

Trump renewed his endorsement of Ohio’s Republican state auditor, Keith Faber, on 31 October, three days before the 3 November 2026 election for attorney general. In the Truth Social post, he said the three policies would be “terminated” if Kulewicz, Faber’s Democratic opponent, and the Democrats “ever got in”.

The post, reproduced by the Trump’s Truth archive, linked to an Ohio voting page and gave no evidence for Kulewicz’s alleged opposition. Kulewicz’s campaign website and a recent interview with local broadcaster WTAP do not set out his position on the measures. His campaign was not contacted for this article.

The archive also records an earlier endorsement of Faber on 1 September. That day, Trump used almost identical language to accuse a Florida congressional candidate, Pia Dandiya, of opposing the same tax policies.

The deductions are federal, and an Ohio attorney general cannot repeal them alone. A change to federal law would normally require Congress to pass a bill and the president to sign it. Trump’s warning also referred to Democrats gaining power more broadly, not just Kulewicz’s election.

What the tax law provides

The 2025 law offers deductions from federal taxable income, not the blanket exemptions suggested by Trump’s slogans. The Internal Revenue Service says eligible taxpayers can deduct up to $25,000 a year in qualifying tips and up to $12,500 in qualifying overtime premiums, rising to $25,000 on a joint return. The overtime deduction covers only the premium above the regular pay rate, and both deductions phase out at higher incomes.

Social Security is the US system of retirement, disability and survivors’ benefits. The law gives eligible people aged 65 and over an additional deduction of up to $6,000 a year, whether or not they receive Social Security. It can reduce or eliminate income-tax bills for some people, but it did not abolish tax on Social Security benefits. The Congressional Research Service says up to 85% of a benefit can still be included in taxable income, depending on circumstances. That is not an 85% tax rate.

Democratic votes and proposals

All 212 Democrats in the US House of Representatives voted against the broader 2025 tax and spending package, as did two Republicans. That was a vote on the whole package, not the three deductions individually.

Democratic congressman Sean Casten has since called for the entire law to be repealed, although he argued that a repeal in 2028 would not affect taxes on tips and overtime because the deductions are temporary.

Other Democrats have backed tax relief. Senator Jacky Rosen helped advance a separate bipartisan tips bill that passed the Senate without objection in 2025. Ohio representative Emilia Sykes co-sponsored a proposal to expand the overtime deduction. Casten also co-sponsored a separate bill, introduced by Democratic representative Angie Craig, to exempt Social Security benefits from federal income tax.

Those positions do not establish Kulewicz’s views or what a future Congress would do. Under current law, all three deductions are due to lapse after the 2028 tax year unless extended, regardless of the Ohio result.