Krugman claims Trump deliberately aids corrupt ultra-wealthy through tax policy

Liberal economist Paul Krugman wrote that Donald Trump’s tax reforms are intentionally crafted to assist corrupt high-net-worth individuals, distinguishing this from the typical GOP tilt toward the affluent. He cites the administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which slashed IRS personnel and enforcement capacity, leaving the agency weaker than it was before President Joe Biden’s attempts at reform. Krugman warns that the party controlling Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court actively favors dishonest wealthy men, effectively rewarding tax cheats.

He further theorizes that Trump’s worldview assumes anyone who seems honest must be deceptive, reinforcing his alliance with corrupt elites. The column frames these policies as a systematic preference for malfeasants rather than merely the rich. Krugman’s analysis draws on historical references, including a phrase from Theodore Roosevelt, to underscore the moral implications of the current tax regime.