United Airlines CEO faces rightwing backlash after calling for US wealth tax

Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines , is under scrutiny from conservative politicians and commentators for saying wealth inequality is a “danger to society” and calling for a national wealth and inheritance tax in a recent interview.

Talking to the New York Times , Kirby was asked about the growing public distrust of CEOs and whether he felt any responsibility to quell that distrust.

“We should have a national wealth tax – it won’t work by state because people will just move,” he said. “And I think we should have inheritance taxes that get close to 100% at some level. I would pay them.”