Trump’s $1.6 trillion claim: What the numbers really say about GOP tax bill

White House press secretary says the tax bill ‘does not add to the deficit’

Last Updated: May 20, 2025 at 4:18 p.m. ET
First Published: May 20, 2025 at 12:10 p.m. ET

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing Monday that the GOP tax bill won’t add to the federal deficit. Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, made a sweeping claim Monday, saying that the president’s tax bill won’t add to the nation’s already significant budget deficit.

At a briefing Monday, Leavitt said the bill “does not add to the deficit” and that it includes the largest savings in U.S. history. “In fact … this bill will save $1.6 trillion,” she added.