Trump claims he will pay "more" under his own tax plan
President Trump said he will pay more in taxes under the tax plan his administration released earlier this week after criticism that the tax plan will greatly help investors and wealthy business owners such as himself.
"I will pay more than I pay right now," Mr. Trump said in a Fox News interview that aired Friday night.
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That's because all the deductions under the proposed tax plan disappear, he said.
Earlier this week, White House Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin laid out the administration's skeleton plan for tax reform, which would lower the corporate tax rate to 15 percent from 35 percent. While sparse on details, Mnuchin said it will "pay for itself with growth."
While the Trump tax plan is supposed to close loopholes, the White House has not laid out any concrete proposals yet to do that. In fact, it will close down the alternative minimum tax, launched in the 1960s to ensure that rich people reliant on loopholes in the tax code actually paid their fair share.
Mr. Trump, who gave the Fox News interview on the eve of his 100th day in office, said he has been "disappointed" in how Republicans have handled major issues like health care, but he has "confidence" in Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, in moderate Republicans and in the House Freedom Caucus.
"They never had to govern," he said of congressional Republicans. "All of the sudden, we're governing."
Mr. Trump said he expects a health care vote "maybe next week sometime."
As for what he believes is his biggest achiveement in the first 100 days, Mr. Trump noted his meetings with foreign dignitaries that lay the groundwork for future developments.
"Now, you don't measure that in the first 100 days, but the foundations have been set in the first 100 days," Mr. Trump said of his meetings with foreign dignitaries, like Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Mr. Trump also made some interesting claims about his golfing activities, claiming that, "I couldn't care less about golf," despite having golf outings in 19 in his first 100 days.
"I'm not having fun," Mr. Trump said of his golf trips, claiming he only golfs to conduct business, such as meetings with foreign dignitaries.
Mr. Trump dismissed claims that he is unpopular, saying his approval ratings are in the high 40s. But a CBS News poll released this week said 41 percent of voters approve of the job Mr. Trump has done so far.
CBSN Originals recently returned to Erie, Pennsylvania to reconnect with locals who hoped a fresh approach in Washington would bring about change in their struggling home town. Airing on May 21 at 8 p.m. EST, "America | Redefining Hope" looks at how that hope has evolved.