In Missouri speech  Trump touts benefits of tax cuts for 'the people that like me best'
With a critical Senate vote looming  President Donald Trump on Wednesday pitched the Republican tax plan as a boon to  his  working-class supporters  even as independent analyses have indicated that the wealthy and corporations would be the biggest beneficiaries.
"Our focus is on helping the folks who work in the mail rooms and the machine shops of America  the plumbers  the carpenters  the cops  the teachers  the truck drivers . ... the people that like me best "  Trump  said in remarks to an enthusiastic  invitation-only crowd of about 1 000 at a convention center in a state that he carried comfortably in last year's election.
"Really  the people that like me best are those people  the workers "  Trump  said. "They're the people I understand the best. ... They came out to vote for me. They came out to vote for us."
 Trump  appeared upbeat as  he  addressed the crowd from a stage lined with Christmas trees  urging the Senate to pass the bill in coming days.
"The big day will be either tomorrow or the next day "  Trump  said. "I would say  'Do it now.' "
If the bill passes  the Senate will have to work out differences with the House  which has passed its own version of a tax-cut bill.  Trump  referred to the process as "a mixer" and said  he  hopes to have compromise legislation on  his  desk by Christmas.
"Together we will give the American people a big  beautiful Christmas present "  Trump  told the crowd. "You're going to have something I predict is going to be really  really special."
Several recent polls show that more Americans oppose than support the  Trump  and GOP tax plans. A Quinnipiac poll this month found about twice as many disapproving as approving (52 percent vs. 25 percent)  with nearly a quarter offering no opinion.
Polls have also found a widespread perception that the  Trump  tax plan is geared toward the wealthy. In a Washington Post-ABC News poll this month  60 percent said his tax proposal favors the rich  while 13 percent thought it favors the middle class  2 percent said it favors the poor  and 17 percent said it treats all equally.
During his remarks here in the St. Louis area   Trump  suggested that the GOP efforts were widely popular.
" We  have tremendous support for this plan  tremendous "  he  said.
 Trump  also said that  he  would not fare well under the plan - a contention that independent analyses have disputed - and that some of  his  wealthy friends have complained to  him  about it.
 Trump  acknowledged that critics are saying that the legislation would benefit the wealthy.
"If it is  my friends don't know about it "  he  said.
 Trump  said the tax plan would be good for corporations  which would see a drop in the tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent.  Trump  and other Republicans have argued that companies would use the windfall to create more jobs and raise wages  benefiting the middle and lower classes. Many economists have questioned that premise  however.
 Trump 's trip to the "Show Me State" was  his  second since becoming president. In August   he  launched a concerted public effort to pass tax legislation during an event in Springfield  Missouri.
With a critical Senate vote looming  [TGT] on Wednesday pitched the Republican tax plan as a boon to  [TGT]  working-class supporters  even as independent analyses have indicated that the wealthy and corporations would be the biggest beneficiaries.
"Our focus is on helping the folks who work in the mail rooms and the machine shops of America  the plumbers  the carpenters  the cops  the teachers  the truck drivers . ... the people that like me best "  Trump  said in remarks to an enthusiastic  invitation-only crowd of about 1 000 at a convention center in a state that he carried comfortably in last year's election.
"Really  the people that like me best are those people  the workers [TGT]said. "They're the people I understand the best. ... They came out to vote for me. They came out to vote for us.[TGT]appeared upbeat as  [TGT]  addressed the crowd from a stage lined with Christmas trees  urging the Senate to pass the bill in coming days.
"The big day will be either tomorrow or the next day [TGT]said. "I would say  'Do it now.' "
If the bill passes  the Senate will have to work out differences with the House  which has passed its own version of a tax-cut bill.  [TGT]referred to the process as "a mixer" and said  [TGT]  hopes to have compromise legislation on  [TGT]  desk by Christmas.
"Together we will give the American people a big  beautiful Christmas present [TGT]told the crowd. "You're going to have something I predict is going to be really  really special."
Several recent polls show that more Americans oppose than support the  [TGT]and GOP tax plans. A Quinnipiac poll this month found about twice as many disapproving as approving (52 percent vs. 25 percent)  with nearly a quarter offering no opinion.
Polls have also found a widespread perception that [TGT] is geared toward the wealthy. In a Washington Post-ABC News poll this month  60 percent said his tax proposal favors the rich  while 13 percent thought it favors the middle class  2 percent said it favors the poor  and 17 percent said it treats all equally.
During his remarks here in the St. Louis area   [TGT]suggested that the GOP efforts were widely popular.
" We  have tremendous support for [TGT]tremendous "  he  said.
 [TGT]also said that  [TGT]  would not fare well under the plan - a contention that independent analyses have disputed - and that some of  [TGT]  wealthy friends have complained to  [TGT]  about it.
 [TGT]acknowledged that critics are saying that the legislation would benefit the wealthy.
"If it is  my friends don't know about it "  he  said.
 [TGT]said [TGT] would be good for corporations  which would see a drop in the tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent.  [TGT]and other Republicans have argued that companies would use the windfall to create more jobs and raise wages  benefiting the middle and lower classes. Many economists have questioned that premise  however.
 [TGT] 's trip to the "Show Me State" was  his  second since becoming president. In August   he  launched a concerted public effort to pass tax legislation during an event in Springfield  Missouri.