Mark Ruffalo Faces Criticism for “Tax the Rich” Support
Mark Ruffalo is encountering backlash after endorsing the “Tax the Rich” campaign. On February 24, the 58-year-old actor posted a video urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul to raise taxes on billionaires and large corporations to address affordability issues in the state.
In the video, he also highlighted an upcoming march titled “Tax the Rich and Demand an Affordable New York: Albany Takeover” happening in the state capital on February 25th. “Rent is squeezing people in New York,” he stated, adding that childcare costs have climbed to over $20,000 annually. He criticized President Trump’s policies for enriching billionaires while working families suffer from cuts to vital services.
Ruffalo mentioned last year’s significant voter turnout in support of Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s affordability initiatives. “So who’s in your way?” he posed. “Governor Kathy Hochul can either protect working families by taxing the wealthy, or exacerbate President Trump’s cuts, forcing ordinary people to shoulder more costs. Sixty percent of New Yorkers agree, like me, that billionaires and corporations should be taxed to fund crucial services like childcare and housing.”
“On February 25th, thousands will gather in Albany to send a clear message to Kathy Hochul: Tax the rich so that we can all benefit. They can manage it. Trust me,” he concluded.
A user on X shared a clip of Ruffalo saying, “Tax the rich…they can handle it, trust me,” which garnered over 5 million views. The post quickly attracted a wave of comments, with many critics labeling Ruffalo a hypocrite due to his significant wealth, estimated in the tens of millions.
Some users pointedly remarked, “Waiting for him to step up,” while another added, “He can handle it, right?” Others chimed in, suggesting that Ruffalo could voluntarily increase his taxes or even give most of his wealth away.
While some users accused him of not advocating for higher taxes on himself, others criticized the preferential treatment of celebrities when it comes to taxation. “Notice how wealthy people always tell others to pay more taxes, but never pay them themselves,” one pointed out.
Despite the negative remarks on X, Ruffalo received significant praise on Instagram. “Thank you for your compassion and leadership,” read one of the supportive comments. Others expressed admiration for his stance, reinforcing their support for his message. Some fans articulated their agreement with Ruffalo, citing examples of successful tax policies in other states that improved social services.
Last month, Ruffalo had joined several other millionaires and billionaires in signing an open letter during the World Economic Forum in Davos, pushing for increased taxes on the ultra-wealthy. They argue that extreme wealth concentration poses a threat to democracy and exacerbates inequality.
