President Donald Trump visited Southern Nevada to celebrate his “no tax on tips” policy one day after the federal tax filing deadline. But there was more behind what ultimately felt more like a rally.
Las Vegas was a natural location for the president to tout one of his more popular policies. About 12% of Nevada’s population relies on tips for their income, making the state one of the country's top tip-based economies. “No tax on tips” is a signature feature of last year’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
But the president — and his advisors — really wanted the 250 or so event attendees to feel better about the economy.
“We've seen the president, at many of these types of events across the country, veer into long tangents about the war in Iran [and] lots of other affairs,” said Megan Messerly, a White House reporter for Politico, and a former Nevada-based journalist. “But he really stuck to the message and really drilled in on this message on the economy, which is what his campaign folks and his top political advisors in the White House have been wanting him to do for months now.”
The tax cuts are popular, even with many Democrats, whose biggest argument against them is that they’re set to expire in 2028. Concerns that they would worsen inflation is a non-issue, Messerly said, particularly considering other rising costs. At $4.93 per gallon, Nevada ranks among the five U.S. states with the highest gas prices, according to AAA. Locals Messerly spoke to last week suggest that the new windfall on their tax return is at best a wash.
“I keep hearing from folks on the ground here that it's not enough,” Messerly said.
At one point during the Las Vegas rally, Trump suddenly pivoted from “no tax on tips” to the Iran war, which is so unpopular with Americans that it’s brought the president’s favorability numbers down below 40% for the first time in this term. That could affect Republican candidates during this year’s midterm elections.
But the top issue for voters is the economy. People want change, according to Messerly, and that’s concerning to Republican party officials and candidates ahead of the November election. As such, they are walking a fine line between supporting their party and denouncing some things that President Trump is doing. This includes the Nevada incumbent primary candidate for the gubernatorial race, Joe Lombardo.
“You see Governor Lombardo trying to define himself as his own candidate [and] run on a very Nevada specific message at the same time,” Messerly said. She added that even without a major race this election, Nevada’s races this year still matter on the bigger political stage.
“This is an incredibly important segment of the electorate, not just here, but across the country,” Messerly said. “I do think the gubernatorial race here is going to be very instructive in terms of how working-class voters vote, and what that means for 2028.”
Guest: Megan Messerly politics reporter, Politico
