Ahead of his Wednesday rally on Long Island, Donald Trump is vowing to restore the federal deduction for state and local tax payments, also known as SALT, reversing course on a controversial provision of the 2017 tax law that he pushed through Congress. 

In a Tuesday afternoon post on social media, Trump pledged to “get SALT back” if returned to the White House. 

The 2017 Republican tax law, which he signed and continues to champion, capped the SALT deduction at $10,000 — part of an effort to help pay for tax cuts included in the legislation. The cap disproportionately hurts taxpayers in blue states like New York, where property and state income taxes are relatively high.

What You Need To Know

  • In a social media post Tuesday, former President Donald Trump pledged to "get SALT back" if he is returned to the White House.

  • The pledge amounts to an about-face for Trump. The 2017 Republican tax law that he signed and championed capped the federal deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000

  • Several Republicans fighting to hold on to competitive New York congressional seats, who mounted an unsuccessful bid for SALT reform earlier this year, quickly praised Trump 
  • Democrats, noting Trump is the one who restricted the SALT deduction in the first place, labeled Trump's announcement "SALT in the wound" and a "performative bluff" ahead of his planned rally on Long Island Wednesday

The about-face came a day before Trump is set to rally in Nassau County on Long Island in one of the several competitive congressional districts across New York that could determine control of the U.S. House next year. 

Several New York Republicans fighting to hold on to those battleground seats, who mounted an unsuccessful bid for SALT reform earlier this year, quickly rallied behind Trump. 

In a statement, Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler said, "I'm glad to hear that former President Trump has committed to lifting the cap on SALT ... Since taking office, this has been a top priority for me.”

Nassau County Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose district will host the former president’s Wednesday rally, tweeted a salt shaker emoji. 

In this year’s campaign, Trump already has proposed ending federal taxes on tips, overtime earnings and social security benefits, and lowering corporate taxes, costing the government potentially hundreds of billions of dollars a year. Ending the cap on SALT would add even more to the deficit. 

Democrats noted Trump is the one who restricted the SALT deduction in the first place. 

Suffolk County congressional candidate John Avlon called Trump’s announcement “SALT in our wounds.”

Laura Gillen, who is seeking to unseat D’Esposito, said in a statement, “Nassau County families see right through Trump and D’Esposito’s performative bluff.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi, whose refrain was “No SALT, no deal” during deliberations over Democrats' 'Build Back Better' bill several years ago, said, "If [Trump] is truly serious he should urge 100 Republicans in the House and 25 in the Senate to join me to restore the full SALT deduction now!”

And Sen. Chuck Schumer, who has pledged to not put legislation on the Senate floor extending the cap if he remains majority leader next year, accused Trump of pretending to support SALT ahead of his Long Island rally. 

Schumer described the 2017 Republican tax law as “a nasty piece of legislation - supported by Donald Trump - aimed at the blue states.”

Asked why Trump had a change of heart on SALT, Trump campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “While his pro-growth, pro-energy policies will make life affordable again, President Trump is also going to quickly move tax relief for working people and Seniors."