United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Faces Backlash Over Wealth Tax Comments

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has drawn sharp criticism from conservative politicians and media commentators following a recent interview in which he stated that wealth inequality represents a “danger to society” and advocated for sweeping new taxation policies. According to The Guardian, Kirby’s remarks have sparked a heated public debate over executive compensation, taxation, and corporate responsibility.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Calls for National Wealth Tax

During a conversation with the New York Times, Kirby was questioned about the rising public distrust directed toward corporate chief executives and whether leaders bear a responsibility to address it. In response, the airline executive offered a candid assessment of economic disparity.

“We should have a national wealth tax – it won’t work by state because people will just move,” Kirby stated during the interview. He went further regarding generational wealth, adding, “And I think we should have inheritance taxes that get close to 100% at some level. I would pay them.”

Conservative Politicians and Media Respond

Kirby’s statements immediately triggered a strong rightwing backlash. Outlets including Fox Business and the New York Post highlighted that Kirby earned $32 million in 2025. Media personality Glenn Beck and various users on the social media platform X subsequently called for a boycott of United Airlines.

Elected officials also weighed in on the controversy. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry criticized the remarks on X, writing, “How audacious from a guy that didn’t even build @united and makes $32 million a year.” Landry further suggested that Kirby should distribute his salary to lower-level employees, adding, “Let’s see you step up and place your money where your mouth is!”

The timing of Kirby’s remarks coincides with an impending ballot measure in California, where voters are set to decide on a proposed “billionaire’s tax” that would levy a 5% tax on the state’s wealthiest residents.

Addressing Rising Fares and Seat Fees

In the same interview, Kirby addressed consumer complaints regarding the rising cost of air travel. He explained that current high prices are often measured against artificial lows experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which heavily disrupted global aviation.

“We have to charge enough that it covers the cost of flying, and it’s expensive to fly airplanes,” Kirby said. Addressing additional charges, such as a $70 fee for non-frequent flyers to select aisle or window seats, he maintained that unbundling services allows customers to pay specifically for what they want.

Furthermore, Kirby defended airline pricing by asserting that fares remain lower than they were in 2019 when adjusted for inflation. Labor department data indicates that while overall consumer prices rose by 31% from September 2019 to September 2026, the index for airline fares increased by approximately 20% over the same period.

Source: United Airlines CEO faces rightwing backlash after calling for US wealth tax (source-feed timestamp 2026-10-20T20:06:31+00:00). AI-assisted report based on the cited linked article and its RSS feed; details were not independently verified.