It was a holiday weekend, but President Donald Trump and rival Bernie Sanders didn’t exactly exchange greeting cards.
Instead, the political foes clashed via Twitter over the nation’s new tax legislation, which Trump signed into law Friday.
“Today, it was my great honor to sign the largest TAX CUTS and reform in the history of our country,” the president tweeted, soon after signing the $1.5 trillion bill.
Today, it was my great honor to sign the largest TAX CUTS and reform in the history of our country. Full remarks: https://t.co/kMxoxEB68G pic.twitter.com/OeAoA0sLfx
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2017
On Saturday, Trump touted the plan as the culmination of a successful first year in the Oval Office.
“The Tax Cut/Reform Bill, including Massive Alaska Drilling and the Repeal of the highly unpopular Individual Mandate, brought it all together as to what an incredible year we had,” he tweeted.
The Tax Cut/Reform Bill, including Massive Alaska Drilling and the Repeal of the highly unpopular Individual Mandate, brought it all together as to what an incredible year we had. Don’t let the Fake News convince you otherwise…and our insider Polls are strong!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2017
Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, prefaced his weekend tweets by posing a question Thursday.
“Doesn’t it tell us a lot about Republican priorities,” Sanders asked, “when the tax breaks for corporations are permanent, while the tax cuts for working families expire at the end of 8 years?”
Doesn’t it tell us a lot about Republican priorities when the tax breaks for corporations are permanent, while the tax breaks for working families expire at the end of 8 years?
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 21, 2017
Then on Saturday, Sanders poked fun at reports that Trump had told friends during a Mar-a-Lago dinner in Florida on Friday night that, “You all just got a lot richer.”
“At least Trump is finally telling the truth about his tax bill,” Sanders wrote.
At least Trump is finally telling the truth about his tax bill. https://t.co/pEwx0DvRiq
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 24, 2017
That same day, however, the president reminded his Twitter followers:
“The Stock Market is setting record after record and unemployment is at a 17 year low. So many things accomplished by the Trump Administration, perhaps more than any other President in first year.”
The Stock Market is setting record after record and unemployment is at a 17 year low. So many things accomplished by the Trump Administration, perhaps more than any other President in first year. Sadly, will never be reported correctly by the Fake News Media!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017
Then Sunday, Sanders presented alternatives for what the U.S. could have done with the $1.5 trillion value of the tax legislation.
“What we could do with $1.5 trillion:
-Make college tuition-free
-Provide universal preschool
-Repair our crumbling infrastructure
-Fund CHIP for 107 years
What we could do with $1.5 trillion:
-Make college tuition-free
-Provide universal preschool
-Repair our crumbling infrastructure
-Fund CHIP for 107 years
-Rebuild Puerto RicoWhat Republicans did:
-Give tax breaks to the wealthy and corporationshttps://t.co/cpuyrTkhQI— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 24, 2017
-Rebuild Puerto Rico
What Republicans did:
-Give tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations.”
Sanders added, in a separate tweet:
“If I were the Republicans, I would worry very much about 2018,” referring to next year’s mid-term elections.
If I were the Republicans, I would worry very much about 2018.pic.twitter.com/UQcWla7pST
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 24, 2017
But Trump seemed unfazed by any talk of problems at the polls for the GOP. As he tweeted Saturday:
Remember, the Republicans are 5-0 in Congressional races this year. In Senate, I said Roy M would lose in Alabama and supported Big Luther Strange – and Roy lost. Virginia candidate was not a “Trumper,” and he lost. Good Republican candidates will win BIG!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017
“Remember, the Republicans are 5-0 in Congressional races this year.”
