Fact Check: Did Trump announce an end to property taxes for senior citizens?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid inflation and rising gas prices due to the conflict in the Middle East, a rumor began circulating on social media claiming that President Donald Trump had announced an end to property taxes for senior citizens.
The claim has sparked questions and speculation, with netizens calling for a fact check of the viral rumor.
Claim: Trump cancelled property tax for seniors
According to a viral post that surfaced on Facebook, President Trump called for an end to property taxes for seniors, declaring that it's time for the government to “stop shaking down our beautiful old people like a bunch of crooks.”
“Folks, let me tell you something,” Trump allegedly said. “These people? They’ve paid their dues. They’ve worked hard, they’ve built this country, and what do we do? We tax them for owning a home. A home that, by the way, they already paid for. It’s disgraceful, folks. Absolutely disgraceful.”
The post drew a significant number of views and likes, triggering criticism amid inflation and rising gas prices, indicating that many people believe the claim to be true.
Fact Check: The claim originated from a parody account
However, the claim is false, as the president did not announce any tax exemption for senior citizens. According to the original post, Trump made these remarks at a rally in Florida. However, as of this writing, no such rally has taken place.
There are also no official statements, news reports, or announcements from the president or the White House announcing an end to property taxes.
If the claim were true, it would have been widely covered by credible news outlets and made national headlines.
Moreover, the Facebook account 'America’s Last Line of Defense,' which posted the claim, is a parody account and states in its bio, 'Nothing on this page is real.'
Rising gas prices, market fears follow Hormuz closure
The claim surfaced amid mounting economic pressure and rising gas prices as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continued.
The geopolitical tensions also took a toll on Wall Street, with Dow futures falling 330 points, or 0.6%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures each slipped about 0.1%.
As Iran and Oman continued talks on managing traffic through the vital strait, the Islamic Republic warned that it would not reopen it until the United States corrected its behavior.
