United CEO Faces Conservative Backlash Over Wealth Tax Support

WHO:

Bloomberg Markets - Scott Kirby is the CEO of United Airlines.

Alternet - Scott Kirby, United Airlines’ CEO, was criticized by conservative politicians and commentators for advocating wealth and inheritance taxes.

Alternet - Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called Kirby’s position “audacious.”

Alternet - Glenn Beck, a former Fox News host, and other users on X called for a boycott of United Airlines.

Alternet - Gaya Gupta of The Guardian reported on the criticism of Kirby.

Alternet - President Donald Trump spoke in a July speech about communism as a threat to American liberty.

WHAT:

Bloomberg Markets - Kirby said a fair tax system could tax wealth growth while lowering income taxes.

Alternet - In an interview with The New York Times, Kirby said, “We should have a national wealth tax – it won’t work by state because people will just move.”

Alternet - Kirby also called for inheritance taxes that “get close to 100 percent at some level,” adding, “I would pay them.”

Alternet - Kirby described wealth inequality as “a danger to society,” according to Gupta’s report.

Alternet - Fox Business and the New York Post highlighted that Kirby made $32 million in 2025.

Alternet - Landry wrote on X: “How audacious from a guy that didn’t even build @united and makes $32 million a year.”

Alternet - Landry urged Kirby to donate to the government or distribute his salary to lower-level United employees, writing, “Let’s see you step up and place your money where your mouth is!”

Alternet - Trump said, “Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty,” and described communist morality as justifying “inhuman visions.”

Alternet - The article says Trump proposed a $5,000 payment to every American adult if Republicans reclaim Congress.

WHERE:

Bloomberg Markets - Kirby discussed wealth taxation in the United States.

Alternet - Kirby said a wealth tax should be national rather than state-level because people would move between states.

WHY:

Alternet - Kirby said a state-level wealth tax would not work because people would move.

Alternet - Gupta reported that conservative critics objected to Kirby’s support for taxing wealth and inheritance.

HOW:

Bloomberg Markets - Kirby discussed his views in an appearance on “Bloomberg Surveillance.”

Alternet - Kirby’s comments about wealth and inheritance taxes were made in an interview with The New York Times.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 15:05 UTC)

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says the United States should tax wealth growth and lower income taxes, arguing that a wealth tax must be national because people would move between states to avoid it. In an interview with The New York Times, Kirby also called for inheritance taxes that could approach 100 percent at higher levels, saying wealth inequality is a danger to society and that he would pay the taxes. Conservative politicians and commentators criticized his proposals, with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry calling them “audacious” and Glenn Beck and others urging a boycott of United; critics also pointed to Kirby’s $32 million pay in 2025.