Dagen McDowell criticizes United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby for his proposal for a national wealth tax and near 100% estate tax. She denounces double taxation and highlights the hypocrisy of pricing for the airline’s elite status.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is under fire for his support for a national wealth tax and inheritance tax approaching 100%, with a top Justice Department official joining the backlash by attacking the airline’s services.
Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, weighed in on the controversy with an article on X about her recent experience flying United.
“WiFi didn’t work on my last two flights,” Dhillon wrote.
His comment followed Kirby’s remarks in a recent interview with The New York Times, in which he warned that growing wealth inequality posed a “danger” to American society.
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Harmeet K. Dhillon speaks at the IAC National Summit 2026 at Diplomat Beach Resort on January 17, 2026 in Hollywood, Florida.
“We should have a national wealth tax — it won’t work on a state-by-state basis because people will just move,” Kirby told the Times. “And I think we should have close to 100 percent inheritance tax at some level. I would pay it.”
Scott Kirby, Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines Holdings Inc., during an interview with Bloomberg Television at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, United States, Tuesday, August 25, 2026. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Kirby’s position also drew attention to his own compensation. United’s CEO received approximately $32.3 million in total compensation in fiscal 2025, including salary, stock and performance incentives. That’s about 334 times the airline’s reported median employee compensation of $96,670, according to United’s 2026 proxy statement.
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Beyond his tax proposals, Kirby also addressed United’s pricing practices during the interview, defending the airline’s decision to charge passengers more for certain seat options.
“Some customers want to sit at a window seat or a better seat, and that costs money to deliver,” Kirby said.
A United Airlines Boeing 757 takes off from Los Angeles International Airport en route to New York on September 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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His comments sparked criticism from some social media users, with some threatening to stop flying United and others urging Kirby to focus on ticket prices and customer service.
One user wrote that Kirby should focus on “flight safety, price and speed,” adding: “What if we start by not charging $500 for basic 2-hour domestic routes?” »
FOX Business’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
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