LAS VEGAS — President Donald Trump touted his signature tax cuts at a Las Vegas roundtable discussion Thursday, declaring that the U.S. economy was “booming.”

The president was flanked by local workers who thanked him after he highlighted provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Act,” including increased earnings from the “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime” policies.

“It’s great to be back in a place I love — Las Vegas,” Trump said to a roaring crowd at AC Hotel Las Vegas Symphony Park.

Trump credits a Las Vegas campaign stop in 2024 with the birth of the tax cuts on tips policy. He retold the story of a waitress who had proposed it during a dinner here.

“It was not an expensive consultant,” he quipped. “Las Vegas is home to the largest concentration of tipped workers anywhere in the country, anywhere in the world. And thanks to our tax cuts this week, thousands of Nevada waiters, waitresses, casino dealers, bartenders, bellmen, barbers, caddies…they’ve received the biggest tax refunds of their entire lives.”

He added: “I just want to say, ‘you’re welcome.’”

The economic discussion veered into other regular Trump talking points, such as his policies on immigration, crime and trans athletes.

Trump insulted the Biden administration and congressional Democrats, telling the crowd that thanks to his administration’s tax cuts, “you’re getting back every penny that you’re owed, because you suffered.”

He touched on the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and said the conflict was proceeding “swimmingly” and that it was coming to a close.

Noting that some of the provisions are slated to sunset, Trump implored the crowd to vote Republican during the midterms.

Here are some key takeaways from Trump’s Las Vegas return:

—‘Prices are coming down’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters in Las Vegas that Americans had received record-breaking tax returns this year, up 13% around the country, and even higher in Clark County.

Trump credited the effects of “no tax on tips” for Las Vegas Valley’s service workforce.

A gallon of gasoline in Clark County averaged $5 on Thursday, according to AAA.

“This is temporary, it will come down,” Bessent said about costs of oil and food.

He blamed neighboring California’s energy policies for Nevada’s higher-than average costs.

“Prices are coming down, and I think this summer we are going to see prices get back to normal,” he said. “President Trump brought gasoline prices down before, and he’ll do it again.”

—White House promotes effect of policies on Nevada

The White House sent out a fact sheet outlining the Trump administration’s economic policies in Nevada.

It said they’ve led to about 23,000 new private sector jobs during the president’s second term.

Families with two children were expected to earn between $7,300 and $10,500 more in annual take-home pay than before the tax cuts, the White House said. New business applications totaled nearly 22,000 from January 2025 through this March.

The Small Business Administration had invested $49 million per month in Nevada loans, the White House said. The average Nevada resident will save roughly $4,300 in taxes thanks to the legislation.

—Democrats critical about state of the Nevada economy

Democrats, including members of Nevada’s congressional delegation, were quick to criticize Trump’s visit.

“@POTUS shows in Las Vegas for a photo op,” Rep. Dina Titus posted on X. “Higher costs, weaker tourism, and policies that break our back to stay afloat.”

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen recorded a video message from Washington, D.C.

“As Donald Trump prepares to come to Las Vegas in a desperate attempt to convince Nevadans he’s trying to lower costs,” she said, “I’m here to talk about what has been really going on in Nevada under the Trump economy.”

Rosen outlined higher prices for gasoline, groceries and a decline in Las Vegas tourism.

“Today, Donald Trump came to town trying to sell more of his broken promises to working families who are paying more as a result of his billionaires-first agenda all while Joe Lombardo kissed the ring,” Nevada Democratic Party Daniele Monroe-Moreno wrote.

—Festive room

Trump supporters began arriving at the venue hours before the president landed at Harry Reid International Airport Thursday afternoon. Many wore Trump-themed merchandise including shirts and “Make America Great Again” hats.

Hundreds packed the hotel’s ballroom before the president’s caravan arrived. Nevada Republicans, including candidates in the 2026 elections, mingled in the crowd.

The stage’s backdrop was a large “NO TAX ON TIPS” banner.

The crowd erupted as Trump came out to Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the U.S.A. anthem. A “USA” chant broke out at one point.

“Love you, too,” Trump responded to a shouting supporter.

Shortly before the event ended, Trump conducted a vocal poll, asking the crowd to react to tax cuts on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits.

He surmised that the latter was the most popular.

Gov. Joe Lombardo did not attend the event but was scheduled to meet with Trump before Air Force One was set to depart to Arizona.

Thank you, @POTUS, for visiting Nevada today and for delivering your historic promise of no tax on tips or overtime, which ensures that Nevada workers bring home more of their hard-earned income,” Lombardo wrote on X.

He said they would talk about federal land use for attainable housing, solar projects and “restoring the full gaming loss deduction.”

—Anti-Trump protest

Just after 5 p.m., a group of about 50 protesters walked from the nearby Clark County Government Center to the AC Hotel. Some in the group held anti-Trump signs. One woman held a sign that read “No tax on this tip… Get lost Trump!!!”

Just before 6 p.m. several small groups of Trump supporters who were crossing Symphony Park Avenue clashed verbally with the protesters.

—Nevada-themed remarks

Trump expressed appreciation for Las Vegas where he conducted business before entering politics. He said he’d heard about a Paris Hotel bellman who’d “purportedly said words no one has ever uttered before: God bless the IRS.”

At the event, Metropolitan Police Department officer Cruz Littlefield told Trump that the tax cuts had helped his family, including a newborn child.

“Thanks to you, we’re now securing for a better financial future than we were ever given as kids,” the officer said.

Las Vegas Strip bartender Nicole Williams said she was grateful for tax cuts on her tip earnings. “It’s just a reminder that it’s promises made, promises kept for you.”

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