Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, is facing backlash from conservative politicians and commentators after he described wealth inequality as a "danger to society" and advocated for a national wealth and inheritance tax in a recent interview.
Key Statements
In an interview with the New York Times, Kirby was asked about the increasing public distrust of CEOs and whether he felt responsible for addressing that distrust. He stated:
“"We should have a national wealth tax – it won’t work by state because people will just move. And I think we should have inheritance taxes that get close to 100% at some level. I would pay them."
Reactions
Kirby's comments have drawn criticism, particularly from conservative media outlets. Fox Business and the New York Post highlighted that Kirby earned $32 million in 2025, questioning his stance on wealth redistribution. In response, former Fox News host Glenn Beck and other users on X (formerly Twitter) called for a boycott of United Airlines.
Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, labeled Kirby's statement as "audacious," tweeting:
