A powerful right-wing group, founded by the Koch brothers, just announced a major $20 million campaign to extend the controversial 2017 Trump tax cuts. These cuts, which heavily favored the rich and big corporations, have sparked a lot of debate. But this new ad campaign is pushing a different story: it claims that these tax cuts are a win for hardworking Americans and small businesses.
In the 60-second ad that aired this weekend, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) paints the 2017 tax law as a game-changer for everyday families. They warn that if parts of the law expire at the end of this year, it could hurt working-class families. “Congress is facing a countdown to a crisis that threatens family budgets nationwide,” says Ross Connolly, AFP’s regional state director. But is it really a crisis for everyone?
The AFP is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that describes itself as a “grassroots” movement, despite its backing from Charles Koch and his late brother David, two well-known billionaires with a strong influence in U.S. politics. The group’s new campaign is aiming to hit all 50 states, with over 1,000 meetings with lawmakers, events with activists, and calls to voters. Their goal is to rally support for President Trump’s agenda as he prepares for his next term.
But here’s the problem: the claim that the 2017 tax cuts were a win for the working class doesn’t hold up against the facts. The top 1% of the wealthiest Americans and big corporations walked away with most of the benefits. In fact, the law was a huge win for the rich—while everyday workers barely saw any benefit.
Morris Pearl, chair of the Patriotic Millionaires, didn’t hold back on his thoughts. “The Koch-backed AFP group is using this $20 million ad campaign to make it look like the 2017 tax cuts helped working families,” he said. “But don’t be fooled. This is just a push to protect tax cuts for the rich, like me.” He went on to say that if Congress wants to truly help working families, they should focus on equalizing tax rates between labor income and profits made by investors.
This $20 million campaign is just one of several right-wing efforts to keep the Trump tax cuts alive. The catch? These cuts could be funded by slashing crucial programs like Medicaid and nutrition assistance that millions of working Americans rely on.
Groups like Accountable.US have called out AFP and others for pushing these tax cuts, noting that the people behind these campaigns have directly benefited from the cuts. According to Accountable.US, the group Advancing American Freedom, which is pushing for an extension, is packed with corporate consultants, lobbyists, and former Trump officials who were involved in shaping the original law.
While AFP and similar organizations are out there pushing their message, critics like Tony Carrk, executive director of Accountable.US, aren’t buying it. “A flashy ad campaign won’t change the reality that the Trump tax cuts primarily benefit billionaires and corporations, while working families end up footing the bill through cuts to essential services like Medicaid and SNAP,” Carrk said.
So, while AFP’s $20 million ad campaign may paint a rosy picture of the 2017 tax cuts, it’s clear that the benefits weren’t shared equally. Working-class Americans, in particular, are the ones who are left behind when the rich continue to get richer.
