LAS VEGAS - US President Donald Trump on Aug 5 turned a speech about the economy into an attack on progressive Democrats, arguing that their recent primary victories pose a potentially dangerous shift for the Democratic Party ahead of the November midterms.

Trump’s visit to Las Vegas was part of a more aggressive push by the White House to shift attention towards the success of progressive candidates as voters remain unhappy with the president’s handling of the economy and the Iran war.

His meandering speech to a crowd of loyalists at Red Rock Casino came a day after progressive candidates scored key victories in Michigan’s Democratic primaries on Aug 4.

Trump spent time focusing on tax provisions in 2025’s Republican spending package, including measures eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security income for many Americans.

“So if you’re a waiter, a waitress, a bartender, a bellhop... you pay zero taxes on your tipped income,” Trump said.

But the victories by progressive Democrats in Michigan and other Democratic primaries were a dominant theme for Trump.

Democratic socialists, he said, represented the creeping threat of communism and threatened to destroy the American way of life.

“I think it’s the greatest threat,” he said.

Neither of the two winning Democratic candidates in Michigan identify as Democratic socialists, although some progressive candidates who emerged victorious in earlier primaries do.

Socialism favours public control of major industries while allowing some private property and markets.

Democratic socialism pursues socialist goals through democratic means.