Former President Donald Trump has accused Democratic vice president nominee Kamala Harris of being a "copycat" after she pledged to eliminate federal taxes on tips for service workers, a proposal that mirrors one made by Trump earlier this year. Harris announced the policy during a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, where she emphasized her commitment to fight for working families of America.

Responding to Harris' announcement, Trump took to his social media platform, citing her fading popularity in the polls and claiming that she had stolen his idea for political purposes. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "The difference is, she won't do it, she just wants it for Political Purposes! This was a TRUMP idea. She has no ideas, she can only steal from me."

In another post, Trump accused Harris of lacking imagination, stating, "She played 'COPYCAT' with, NO TAXES ON TIPS!" Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., echoed his father's sentiments, calling Harris and her running mate, Walz, "Harris-Walz 2024: Stolen proposals and stolen valor!"

However, the idea of eliminating federal taxes on tips is not new and did not originate with Trump. Back in 2012, former Republican representative Ron Paul proposed a similar plan to end federal taxation on tips. In an op-ed for the Las Vegas Sun, Paul emphasized the need to support workers who are often overlooked during discussions on taxes.

Although Trump may have introduced the policy during a campaign stop in Las Vegas earlier this year, it is worth noting that the concept predates his proposal. Paul was unable to advance his plan due to Mitt Romney securing the Republican nomination in 2012.

The move to eliminate federal taxes on tips is expected to resonate with voters in Nevada, particularly those in the hospitality and casino industry who heavily rely on gratuities. Despite some skepticism from labor leaders, the proposal has garnered bipartisan support. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and Nevada's Democratic Representatives Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen have expressed their endorsement of the idea.

According to poll data from Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight, Harris currently holds a slight lead with 44.6 percent of the vote in Nevada, while Trump follows closely with 42.9 percent. Newsweek reached out to both Trump's and Harris' campaign teams for comment, but received no response during the non-working hours on Sunday morning.