Are you trying to say the only value in the stock market is once you sell it? Really dude? Why dont you go read how the increase in the overal stock market is reflected in GDP growth, consumer/investor confidence, employement, etc.
So, I did some quick research... It looks like the TOTAL VALUE of stocks traded in the USA is currently about $40 trillion annually. Now, let's make a few assumptions, because most of this would be very hard even for the government to compute: - Let's assume, very generously, that the average gain on all those stocks sold is 25% (I'm sure it's much less than that). So the collective taxable gain in a year is $10 trillion. In Trump's nine months it would be $7.5 trillion. - Let's assume that all those gains are taxed at the capital gains rate of 15%. That means that in Trump's nine months the national debt would have been impacted by 7.5 x 15%, or a little bit more than $1 trillion. In other words, FAR LESS than what Trump tried to have you believe. It's also worth noting that such taxes are not unique to Trump.... and the REAL effect on the national debt hasn't even been realized because 2017 tax returns have not come due. So, any way you slice it Trump was lying through his teeth or dumb as a box of rocks.... and although he does the former constantly in this case I'm going to attribute his boast to sheer stupidity.
Shut up about the gains and/or gains tax. This isnt about that. Its about Value you fool. As the trends show as our economy's value increases, as does the GDP. The selling and returns on stock has no bearing in this arguement.
Then why do you mention the selling of stocks and spending of the gains? That has nothing to do with this.
I know those things. That's not the point Trump tried to make. His EXACT point was that the higher value of stocks under his term is a practical offset to national debt, when they have next to nothing to do with each other.
