United Airlines CEO calls for national wealth tax despite $32m pay

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has called for a national wealth tax and inheritance taxes approaching 100 per cent, arguing that growing wealth inequality threatens American society. When asked by the New York Times about declining public trust in corporate executives, Kirby said: 'Wealth inequality has become a danger to our society, and we need to address that.' He argued that a wealth tax would need to be implemented at national rather than state level to prevent wealthy Americans from relocating to avoid paying it, stating: 'We should have a national wealth tax — it won't work by state because people will just move.' Kirby did not specify what wealth threshold would trigger his proposed inheritance tax or what rate he would support for a national wealth tax.

Kirby's comments have drawn criticism from conservative politicians and commentators. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called the statement 'audacious', writing on X: 'How audacious from a guy that didn't even build United and makes $32 million a year.' Glenn Beck, a former Fox News host, and other users on social media called for a boycott of United Airlines. The Guardian reports that headlines from Fox Business and the New York Post highlighted Kirby's own $32 million compensation package when reporting his remarks.

How it is being reported

• United Airlines CEO faces rightwing backlash after calling for US wealth taxScott Kirby says wealth inequality is a ‘danger to society’ and calls for inheritance tax in recent interview Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, is under scrutiny from conservative politicians and commentators for saying wealth inequality is a “danger to society” and calling for a national wealth and inheritance tax in a recent interview. Talking to the New York Times , Kirby was asked about the growing public distrust of CEOs and whether he felt any responsibility to quell that distrust. Continue reading...Guardian World · 20 Oct, 21:06
• United CEO Scott Kirby — who earned $32M last year — calls for national wealth tax on the rich"Wealth inequality has become a danger to our society, and we need to address that," Kirby told the New York Times.New York Post · 19 Oct, 23:59

In this story: Scott Kirby · United Airlines · Glenn Beck · Jeff Landry · New York Times · United States

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