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The 2024 US presidential election
In front of this audience, Biden wanted to reinforce his image as the "Union Joe," a title he has earned through his longstanding good relations with unions representing police officers, firefighters, and other groups.
Tax the Rich
Biden emphasized a populist message of raising taxes for the wealthy and big corporations, advocating for them to "pay their fair share," while highlighting his administration's investments in infrastructure and advanced technologies.
Candidate Biden reiterated his call to tax the rich, stating that it is time for the super-wealthy, including the increasing number of billionaires in the United States, to pay their fair share of taxes, emphasizing this message both during his rally and on his Twitter account.
Elon Musk responded humorously, suggesting that Biden should have access to his own Twitter account by saying, "Please give him the password, so he can do his own tweets. Please, I’m begging you!"
'No Action'
Musk dismissed Biden's proposal as campaign rhetoric, suggesting that it won't translate into action due to pressure from lobbyists and wealthy donors, characterizing it as mere posturing, talk, and populism.
Musk argues that although elaborate tax-avoidance schemes should be made illegal, the wealthy won't bear the burden of increased taxes, rather it will be the lower to middle income wage earners who will have to carry the burden of excess government spending through payroll taxes.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of Twitter, is often regarded, alongside Jeff Bezos, as a prominent figure among the wealthy who are criticized for not paying sufficient taxes, according to progressive figures such as Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
Warren criticized Musk, stating that he received substantial investments from the government and taxpayers, while Musk has consistently defended himself, claiming he will pay over $11 billion in taxes in a given year.