While I might disagree with a lot of Donald Trump’s policies, I have to say he’s turning out to be pretty savvy at keeping his base motivated to support him. From illegal immigration to being honest about buying politicians, now he’s talking about how bankers pay much less tax than the regular working person.

“The hedge fund guys didn’t build this country. These are guys that shift paper around and they get lucky,” Trump said.

“They are energetic. They are very smart. But a lot of them – they are paper-pushers. They make a fortune. They pay no tax. It’s ridiculous, ok?”

Trump’s comments were referring to the so-called “carried interest loophole” – a provision in the tax code which allows private equity and hedge fund managers pay taxes at the capital gains rate instead of the ordinary income rate.

Many fund managers are in the top income bracket, but the capital gains tax bracket is only 20 percent.

While these individuals are also required to pay an additional 3.8 percent surtax on their net investment income, this total rate is still far lower than the 39.6 percent rate that top wage earners must pay on their ordinary income.

“Some of them are friends of mine. Some of them, I couldn’t care less about,” Trump said.

“It is the wrong thing. These guys are getting away with murder. I want to lower the rates for the middle class.”
Source: Reuters

That will resonate well with his base and the general electorate in the US, I would hate for him to become President but if some wacky way he wins maybe he will crack down on Wall St. who knows.