[stylin19a]

I sure hope Pres. Trump has something up his sleeve and\or an end game that brings his campaign rhetoric to fruition.

Middle class is very narrow.
Tax policy center - from 2016

Rich people pay nearly 87% of all federal individual income tax in America. 45.3 % pay no income tax. The lowest 40% are tax negative.

Income level	Share of total federal individual income tax paid	Average income tax bill per person
Lowest 20%	        -2.2%	                                                -$643
Second lowest 20%	-1.7%	                                                -$621
Middle income	        4.2%	                                                 $1,743
Second richest 20%	12.9%	                                                 $6,285
Richest 20%	        86.8%	                                                 $50,176

[Mom MD]

The other problem is people are confusing high income individuals with the rich. Given the current state of taxation it is very hard for high income individuals to be come rich

[9YearLurker]

Middle income is probably approximately those in the 3rd and 4th highest levels of income in that table.

That’s 40% of the population and includes pretty much those actually paying taxes on income up to, what, probably those around, say, $140K per year?

Also, that table is misleading, because the poor schmoes in the middle there are paying lots of payroll tax and usually state income tax as well.