LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — President Donald Trump made his first visit to Las Vegas after regaining the White House, thanking the state for his victory and promising to make good on his pledge to eliminate taxes on tips.
Trump won Nevada — and all the other swing states — in the November election. It was the first time he'd won Nevada, despite runs in 2016 against Hillary Clinton and 2020 against Joe Biden.
But Trump's victory in Nevada last year was big: He beat then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the Silver State by 3.1 percentage points, the fourth largest victory by a candidate in the last quarter century. (Barack Obama beat John McCain by 12.42 points in 2008 and Mitt Romney by 6.68 points in 2012, and George W. Bush defeated then-Vice President Al Gore by 3.55 percentage points in 2000.)
Trump attributed his victory in Nevada to his "No Taxes on Tips" pledge, which he made at a rally in Sunset Park last summer.
"In the coming weeks, I'll be working with Congress to get a bill on my desk that cuts taxes for workers, families and small businesses," Trump said, "and more importantly, keep my promise for a thing called — and I know you didn't hear anything about this, and I'm sure it had no influence on the state, the fact that we won this crazy, massive majority, a state that hadn't been won by a Republican in decades — but we're going to get it through you, no tax on tips."
Trump won in November with 50.06% of the vote, the first Republican to take Nevada since Bush in 2004.
Gov. Joe Lombardo and Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael J. McDonald were present at the event, along with Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony and UFC CEO Dana White.
Trump also discussed the whirlwind of activity that's taken place since he returned to the White House on Monday.
- Cracking down on illegal immigration by closing the border, sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to arrest illegal immigrants in U.S cities and sending active-duty military units to the U.S. border.
- Confirming Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense and Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security.
- Withdrawing from the Paris climate accords and the World Health Organization.
- Declaring a national energy emergency and promising to "drill, baby, drill" for oil and natural gas.
- Pardoning the rioters of Jan. 6, 2021 — including those who assaulted police officers — calling the defendants "hostages."
- Signing an executive order to open government files on the assassinations of former President John Kennedy, former U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
"I've done more in one week than other administrations have done in four years," Trump said.
After his speech, videos posted online showed Trump making a surprise visit to the Circa casino floor, with patrons chanting "USA, USA, USA."
WATCH MORE: President Trump holds an event at Circa Resort & Casino
The Nevada State Democratic Party Chair, Daniele Monroe-Moreno, released the following statement to Channel 13 regarding Trump's speech:
Instead of focusing on lowering costs for hardworking Nevadans, Donald Trump spent his first week in office pardoning violent January 6th rioters and attempting to change the constitution and end birthright citizenship by executive order. Trump's executive orders halt funding for projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act will cost thousands of good-paying jobs, raise the cost of prescription drugs and wreak havoc on Nevada's economy, all at the benefit of his billionaire backers. Meanwhile, while families struggle to make ends meet, Joe Lombardo refuses to stand up for Nevadans and is willing to put Donald Trump and his agenda above the needs of Nevada families.
