Ahead of today’s inauguration of President Donald Trump, Oxfam America President and CEO Abby Maxman released the following statement:
"Today, with the inauguration of President Donald Trump and the installation of his team of billionaires, we must prepare for an administration that’s set to pour fuel on already extraordinary inequality. Our country and the world today are extremely unequal; for too long, big corporations and an ultra-wealthy few have rigged the system in their own favor, at the expense of ordinary families. Oxfam data, released today, finds that the world is now on track to see five trillionaires within the next decade, while working families have been left behind for too long, struggling to make ends meet. But inequality is not inevitable; with bold action, we still have the chance to build a more equal future.
"In order to do so, we must confront President Trump’s inequality agenda head on and advocate for an economy that works for all of us. We have already seen how the Trump administration’s policies deepen the divide between the ultra-wealthy and the rest of us: his singular legislative accomplishment from his first term was a massive tax cut for billionaires and big corporations. In his second term, President Trump, backed by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, will once again be a president of and for billionaires. The Trump-Musk economic agenda is a blueprint for inflaming inequality, with even more giveaways for corporations and the ultra-wealthy few at the expense of everyone else – to be paid for by slashing the essential programs and services working families rely upon.
"The Trump-Musk inequality agenda is not the only threat we are facing around the world, as leaders seek to divide us and conflict and climate change increase the number, severity, and duration of humanitarian crises. But together, we can and must continue our fight against inequality here in the United States and globally.
"At Oxfam, we’ll keep speaking truth to power, no matter who is in the White House. Our commitment remains steadfast to the people we serve and the planet we must protect to ensure prosperity for all. This includes working families and the middle class in the United States, as well as people living in crisis across the world, from Gaza to South Sudan. It includes women, girls and LGBTQIA+ individuals who work tirelessly every day while also fighting for equal rights, and immigrants and refugees who historically contribute to building America and are in search of a better life. All deserve an opportunity to thrive, not just survive.
"But we cannot do it alone. It is only through collective action – our movement working together – that we can make change. The future can still be equal, if we fight for it.”
Oxfam is a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice. We offer lifesaving support in times of crisis and advocate for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action. We demand equal rights and equal treatment so that everyone can thrive, not just survive. The future is equal. Join us at oxfamamerica.org.
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