Trump Touts Working Families Tax Cuts in Las Vegas, Warns of Democratic Open Borders and Communist Threat

President Donald Trump arrived at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Summerlin on Wednesday to highlight his administration’s Working Families Tax Cuts from the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while criticizing Democrats on border security and warning against communism and socialism within their party. The event was Trump’s second Las Vegas appearance this year on the tax cuts after an April roundtable.

Speaking to a packed ballroom of several hundred supporters ahead of the midterm elections, Trump emphasized provisions eliminating federal taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits. He credited a 2024 Las Vegas campaign stop and a conversation with a local waitress for the “no tax on tips” policy that helped him win the state.“You got no tax on tips… so if you’re a waiter or waitress, a bartender, a bellhop, a caddie—I love caddies—a valet, a hotel worker, a taxi driver in Las Vegas, or anywhere else, you pay zero taxes on your tipped income,” Trump said.

He also highlighted the tax deduction for interest on auto loans for American-made vehicles: “That was my baby, but only if it’s made here. If it’s not made here, we don’t care about it.”Trump said more Americans are working now than at any point in U.S. history and that the economy is the greatest by far, noting the stock market has posted dozens of record highs in his second term. He contrasted this with Democrats, stating every Democrat in Congress opposed the tax reforms and “want to raise your taxes to levels you’ve never had to pay before.”

On immigration, Trump noted that he inherited “wide open borders from millions of people pouring in from all over the world, drug dealers… [from] the world’s worst prisons, mental institutions, [and] insane asylums.” He added that Democrats “voted against securing the border, they wanted open borders.” Trump claimed his administration stopped the influx and now has “the strongest border in the history of our country,” citing recent ICE arrests in Las Vegas of illegal migrants accused of violent crimes, including one who stabbed roommates and another convicted of sexually assaulting a child.

Regarding the Democratic Party, Trump said “the radical left, the maniacs [are] trying to destroy [the American dream] with the disaster known as, not socialism, communism.” He continued: “What they are trying to do now, they want to skip socialism and go down to the bottom of the barrel that’s communism and they wanted to be a communist country. We’re not letting them have it as a communist country not even for a minute… Together we will… defeat the communism and Marxism in America. It’s defeated and going to go down. You have to nip it in the butt.”

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo appeared at the event to a standing ovation and “Joe” chants after walking out to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.” He led a moment of silence for Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Austin Abdelnabi, fatally shot in the line of duty the previous day. When someone in the crowd jeered at the officer’s name, Lombardo responded firmly: “No, no, we’re not booing. We’re not booing him. He’s the officer that passed away here recently.”

In his remarks, Lombardo referred to his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Aaron Ford, as “my opponent whose name should not be mentioned,” and echoed a crowd member’s call to “Send him home.” He said he has protected Nevada from becoming like California, declared that Nevada “is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, and it won’t be under his rule,” and highlighted a voter ID ballot question (Question 7) that drew strong cheers. (Ford maintains that voter ID  “unconstitutional.”) Later, when Trump brought him back onstage, Lombardo said: “America is that much greater because of his efforts… So when people talk to me about Donald Trump, I’m proud to say he loves Nevada.” He also noted that the no-tax-on-tips policy benefits more people in Nevada than anywhere else in the United States.

Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony also spoke and is facing Californian Sandra Jauregui, the “AOC of Nevada,” according to Anthony. Juaregui was born and raised in Southern California, moving to Las Vegas in 2009 to finish her bachelor’s degree in History.

Democratic reaction included Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno criticizing the visit amid high costs for groceries, utilities, housing, and health care, tying it to Lombardo. The Culinary Union and Democratic lawmakers held events on what they called the “Trump Slump,” pointing to tourism declines they linked to tariffs, immigration policies, and gas prices. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the economic messaging an insult given local cost pressures, including gas prices around $4.80 per gallon.

Nevada’s elevated gas prices stem in significant part from its heavy reliance on California-refined fuel—approximately 88 percent of the state’s supply. California’s stringent environmental regulations and high compliance costs have driven multiple refinery closures, including Phillips 66’s Wilmington facility in late 2025 and Valero’s Benicia plant in April 2026, reducing the state’s refining capacity by roughly 17%. This has tightened supply and contributed to higher prices that spill over into Nevada. Analysts projected the closures alone could add roughly $0.60–$1.20+ per gallon.

Gov. Lombardo has previously noted that California’s policies play a major role in Nevada’s fuel costs. As the California Globe has previously reported, Nevada has seen strong job growth under Lombardo, who has worked with the Trump administration on immigration agreements, combatting fraud in government programs, energy, and other issues, while out-of-state and progressive donors have supported Ford’s campaign, earning California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s endorsement.