President Donald Trump took center stage at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Thursday night to celebrate the passage of his heavily promoted “Big Beautiful Bill.” But while touting what he claimed were historic tax reforms, critics and fact-checkers quickly pointed out a major inaccuracy.
Addressing an enthusiastic MAGA crowd, Trump declared, “Just as I promised, we’re making the Trump Tax Cuts permanent, and delivering no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on social security for our great seniors.”
However, despite his confident tone, Trump’s own bill does not eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits, a long-standing campaign promise he has yet to fulfill. Instead, the legislation includes a temporary increase in the standard deduction for seniors: a $6,000 boost for individuals aged 65 and over.
This provision will expire at the end of Trump’s current term and begin to phase out for individuals earning over $75,000, or $150,000 for couples filing jointly. Critics wasted no time calling out the discrepancy. Ben Meiselas, co-founder of MeidasTouch and a lecturer at USC Law, posted on X, “No tax on social security is not in the bill.”
Political commentator Brian Krassenstein echoed the sentiment, writing, “BREAKING: Trump literally doesn’t know what’s even in the Big Beautiful Bill. He thinks that it removes taxes on Social Security. It DOESN’T! ‘We’re delivering no tax on Social Security.’ What a moron.”
Even the conservative-leaning X account Republicans Against Trump criticized the statement: “Trump: Just as I promised, we’re delivering no tax on social security for our great seniors. Right? (This is a blatant lie. The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ does NOT eliminate taxes on Social Security.)”
Spiro’s Ghost, a well-known anti-Trump X account, added bluntly: “This is a 100.00% lie and nobody will ask him why he keeps repeating it! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”
Frustration even spilled over to Trump supporters and viewers. X user Thomas Martin pleaded with Fox News host Sean Hannity: “Sean..I am watching the Trump rally…and he is lying again about ‘no taxes on social security for seniors’…which he knows is not true!!! We get a deduction…but taxes are not eliminated….why does he feel compelled to lie….he won the election…he no longer has to lie!!!”
Another user, Penny Austin, questioned top Trump aide Dan Scavino, writing: “Dan. President Trump just said obbb result in no tax on social security. Did someone mislead him??? The press will crucify him.” While the bill’s passing marked a political win for Trump, his inaccurate claim about Social Security taxes is now under intense scrutiny — and the internet, as always, is keeping receipts.