Warren slams Trump, says taxpayer money is ‘footing Iran’s bill’ and ‘that is not putting America first’

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Elizabeth Warren on Sunday, April 19, criticised President Donald Trump's spending on the Iran conflict, arguing that the financial burden is being borne by American taxpayers rather than large corporations. 

In remarks addressing tax policy and military expenditure, Warren linked the cost of ongoing operations to what she described as structural inequities in the US tax system.

Her comments come as the White House defends its tax policies, highlighting data on refunds and taxpayer benefits. 

Warren says billions fund Iran war

Warren criticised the financial implications of US military action involving Iran, arguing that the burden disproportionately falls on individual taxpayers.

In a video statement posted on X, Warren said, “when Donald Trump blows up a billion dollars a day to bomb Iran, guess whose money that is? It's yours." 

She emphasised that  Americans, not large corporations, are bearing the cost of Trump's 'illegal war,' stating, “it's not Tesla's or any of the other giant corporations that Trump is letting off the hook. Your taxpayer dollars are footing the bill for Donald Trump's illegal war, and that is not America first.”

She also linked the issue to corporate taxation, pointing to what she described as gaps in the tax code that benefit large companies.

“If you paid even one penny in federal income taxes last year, you paid more than Tesla. That's because Tesla paid nothing in federal income taxes last year. Why? Well, in no small part because Donald Trump rigged our tax code and put in loophole after loophole to give his billionaire buddies even more tax handouts.”

WH cites refunds, says millions benefited

The White House, meanwhile, has defended its tax policies, pointing to data it says demonstrates widespread benefits for American taxpayers.

During a Tax Day briefing on April 15, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted figures indicating that millions of filers received tax relief under current measures.

Speaking alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Leavitt said the administration’s policies had resulted in significant financial returns for households.

“As we have seen this tax season, President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts have put a historic amount of money back into the pockets of the American people,” she said.

Leavitt added, “More than 53 million filers claimed at least one of President Trump's signature new tax cuts...the Trump administration has issued more refunds, and larger refunds, than in any year of the history of our country.”

Officials stated that over 45% of tax returns filed so far included at least one provision introduced under the administration’s tax framework.

The figures were presented as evidence of broad-based economic relief, particularly for working families.