Amazon.com (AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos addressed topics including wealth, taxation, artificial intelligence, and the Trump administration in a public interview.
On May 20, in an interview with CNBC, Bezos stated that the U.S. is caught in a dilemma of "two economies coexisting." He expressed support for eliminating income tax for the lowest-earning half of Americans, a policy stance aligning with some Democratic positions.
However, he rejected raising tax rates for the wealthy, arguing that U.S. fiscal issues stem from government overspending rather than insufficient taxation. He defended the wealthy class, criticizing political efforts to portray them as "villains."
On the topic of AI, he opposed premature regulation and refuted claims that AI will seize jobs. Simultaneously, he spoke highly of Donald Trump, describing him as "a more mature, more disciplined version of himself than in his first term."
Tax Stance: Relief for Low-Income Earners, Rejects "Rob the Rich to Feed the Poor" Logic
Bezos introduced the tax topic in a relatively populist tone at the start of the interview:
A nurse in Queens earning $75,000 a year pays over $12,000 in taxes annually. Is that really fair?
He used this example to support a plan to exempt the lowest-earning half of Americans from income tax.
However, he refused to link this proposal to increasing tax rates for the wealthy. Bezos stated that the U.S. already has "the most progressive tax system in the world," and the root of fiscal problems lies in government overspending, not a lack of tax revenue.
He also denied allegations of evading taxes himself:
I've paid billions in taxes.
He emphasized:
Even if you doubled my tax burden, it wouldn't help that nurse in Queens, I can assure you.
He directly responded to criticism about the wealthy using "buy, borrow, die" strategies to avoid taxes, calling it "completely without basis in fact," and noted that he has consistently sold Amazon.com stock.
Regarding Elon Musk borrowing against his stock, Bezos expressed "some skepticism about whether that's really a loophole, but if it is, it should be closed."
Defending the Wealthy Class, Opposing Political Logic of "Creating Villains"
Despite showing a somewhat conciliatory stance on taxes, Bezos then criticized political efforts to portray the wealthy as the root of societal problems.
He labeled this practice an "age-old technique" of "picking a villain, blaming others," warning that "it doesn't solve anything."
He specifically criticized New York City Councilman Zohran Mamdani for standing in front of Citadel CEO Ken Griffin's residence while announcing a new "second-home tax," portraying Griffin as a "villain." Bezos said:
Ken Griffin is not a villain. He hasn't hurt anybody. He hasn't hurt New York. In fact, quite the opposite.
Mamdani later responded on platform X:
I know a few teachers in Queens who would disagree.
Addressing the notion that "billionaire wealth cannot be accumulated through legitimate means," Bezos refuted it using examples like the fast-food chains In-N-Out Burger and Raising Cane's:
The way you get to a billion dollars is you create a service that people love. If millions of people choose your service, you end up with a billion dollars.
Optimistic on AI: Opposes Premature Regulation, Refutes "Job Stealing" Argument
On artificial intelligence, Bezos holds a clearly optimistic position. He refuted the judgment that AI will lead to mass unemployment, saying those who believe this are "just wrong." He believes AI will empower workers and, by improving production efficiency, lead to price decreases across multiple industries.
He compared AI programming tools to "shovels upgrading to bulldozers," arguing such tools won't replace software engineers but will help programmers solve problems at a higher level. However, he also issued a warning:
The prerequisite for these positive effects is to let the technology evolve naturally, not to bind it prematurely with regulation.
A recent Pew Research Center survey shows half of U.S. adults are more worried than excited about AI's use in daily life, with respondents generally pessimistic about AI's impact on education and employment.
Assessing Trump: Mature, Disciplined, Maintains Non-Partisan Engagement with Politicians
Bezos gave a positive assessment of Trump, calling him "a more mature, more disciplined version of himself than in his first term." He stated, "Trump has a lot of good ideas. He's right about a lot of things, and he should get credit for that," but did not provide specifics.
He denied that Amazon.com producing a high-priced documentary about Melania Trump was an attempt to curry favor with the president, calling it "a lie that just won't die."
Bezos emphasized that his stance transcends political parties, noting he also maintains contact with Democratic former presidents Obama and Biden. He said:
Whoever is president, our business leaders need to provide advice to the administration. I'm on the side of America.
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