By Lauren Sforza
nj.com
(TNS)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent just labeled three Democratic governors as the “Grinches Who Stole Christmas” in a scathing social media post.
Bessent targeted New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) over their state’s taxes amid the ongoing holiday season. He also shared what appeared to be an AI-generated image of the three governors portrayed as the Dr. Seuss character, the Grinch.
“Thanks to @POTUS, ‘tis the season to be jolly – unless you’re a taxpayer in New York, Colorado, Illinois, or the District of Columbia. For millions of hardworking Americans, @GovKathyHochul, @GovofCO @jaredpolis, and @GovPritzker are The Grinches Who Stole Christmas,“ Bessent wrote Wednesday on X.
“Courtesy of their Scrooge-like tendencies, America’s seniors, along with all workers who would benefit from No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime, will be robbed of the tax relief they deserve,” he continued.
“The Christmas season should be a time of great cheer. But due to the Trump Derangement Syndrome of these Governors and other radical leftists, too many low- and middle-income households will receive nothing but coal in their state tax stockings,” he added.
Bessent’s post lashed out at the Democratic states for not conforming to parts of President Donald Trump’s tax cuts included in the “big beautiful bill.” In a statement on Wednesday, Bessent accused New York, Colorado, Illinois and Washington, D.C. of “deliberately blocking their own residents from receiving these historic benefits at the state level.”
“This partisan stonewalling is a direct assault on the very families and workers liberal politicians claim to champion. By denying their residents access to these important tax cuts, these governors and legislators are forcing hardworking Americans to shoulder higher state tax burdens, robbing them of the relief they deserve and exacerbating the financial squeeze on low- and middle-income households,” he said in a statement.
His social media post sparked rebuke from Hochul and Polis.
“Remarkable that an office once held by Alexander Hamilton is now tweeting Grinch fanfic at governors,” Hochul wrote on X.
And Polis argued that Colorado has lowered its taxes in recent years.
“Colorado has cut our income tax three times, and unlike these measures in Trump’s law, those cuts are permanent. While the Secretary is supporting Trump’s tariff taxes, we are delivering real relief through the most generous child tax credit in the nation and cutting poverty,” Polis wrote on X.
“Spend less time talking about tips, which Colorado conforms to and won’t be subject to state or federal income tax up to the level designated in HR1 and instead focus on lowering interest rates, costs and bringing down the price of goods ahead of Christmas by eliminating these draconian tariffs. Happy holidays, Secretary — may your stockings be full of facts, not coal,” he added.
Photo caption: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
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©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
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