With Kamala Harris becoming a rock star by inviting rock stars to open her act, it’s clear she’s focused on generating excitement through pure fluff.  But whereas Harris captures headlines with showmanship, Donald Trump has an opportunity to resonate deeply with a far more substantial and often overlooked voting bloc: those who have paid into the Social Security system.  If Trump zeroes in on this group, he can unlock a political goldmine that could propel him back into the White House.

In what even the New York Times admits could be a game-changer, Trump has proposed ending income taxes on Social Security benefits.  This proposal speaks directly to millions of Americans who feel the sting of being taxed twice on the money they’ve worked their entire lives to earn.  It’s a commonsense policy that cuts through the noise of partisan bickering and addresses a core issue that affects a massive segment of the population.

The Democrats now find themselves in somewhat of a pickle, wrapped in a conundrum in the midst of a riddle.  They can’t win for losing on this.  If they oppose Trump’s proposal, they risk alienating retirees — a group that’s already feeling the pinch of inflation and looking for relief.  Moreover, they would have to explain why a tax break for Social Security was acceptable when proposed by Democrats in the past but suddenly becomes unpalatable when Trump suggests it.

Critics argue that eliminating the tax could reduce government revenues by $1.8 trillion over the next decade.  But this perspective ignores the fundamental unfairness of taxing Social Security benefits in the first place.  This money isn’t new income; it’s a return on years of hard work and contributions.  For the government to tax it again is not only unjust, but also counterproductive, as it erodes trust in the Social Security system itself — and since the government stole the money in the first place, it shouldn’t tax it in the second place, regardless of if it’s decades later.

By focusing on this issue with the intensity and drive that have characterized much of his political career, Trump can differentiate himself from his opponents and appeal to a broad coalition of voters who are eager for a leader who prioritizes their economic well-being.  The idea is simple, the impact profound, and the political payoff potentially enormous.

If Trump pursues this strategy with vigor, he may find that the road back to the White House is paved with the support of millions of Americans who just want what they’ve rightfully earned — without Uncle Sam dipping into their pockets yet again.

Hat tip to Mike Huckabee, who opined on this topic before me.

Image via Raw Pixel.