The Washington Post editorial sharply criticized Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson after she appeared to brush off concerns that wealthy residents and employers might leave following Washington’s new 9.9% tax on incomes above $1 million. The editorial pointed to recent Starbucks store closures and a planned Nashville expansion that could shift about 2,000 jobs out of the Pacific Northwest. A viral video of Wilson saying "bye" while addressing millionaires leaving at a Seattle University forum intensified the backlash, while business leaders such as Microsoft’s Brad Smith expressed heightened concern about the state’s business climate.
Seattle Mayor’s Viral 'Bye' Wave Sparks Backlash Over Millionaire Tax and Business Flight
Wilson at one point supported slashing Seattle's police department budget by 50%.(Fox News)
The Washington Post editorial board on Friday criticized Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson for what it described as a dismissive response to concerns that higher taxes and recent business moves are prompting wealthy residents and employers to leave the state.
The editorial, headlined "Seattle’s mayor waves goodbye to prosperity," recalled that nine days after winning November’s mayoral election Wilson joined Starbucks baristas on a picket line and pledged to support their union. The board said the episode underscored the mayor’s progressive credentials while questioning the economic consequences of recent policy shifts.
Tax Policy and Business Moves
The board highlighted Washington’s newly enacted "millionaire’s tax," a 9.9% levy on annual incomes above $1 million, as a key factor in the debate. It also pointed to several business developments, including recent Starbucks store closures and the company’s planned expansion in Nashville, Tennessee, which the editorial said would move roughly 2,000 jobs out of the Pacific Northwest.
“With the tax on the horizon, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced that he and his wife are leaving Seattle for Miami,” the editorial noted, citing Florida’s lack of a state income tax.
The Viral Moment
The most widely shared element of the story is a short exchange at a Seattle University forum on April 14, 2026, where Wilson spoke at a panel titled "Governing Through a Progressive Lens." According to the editorial and an accompanying video, when asked whether the tax could drive millionaires away, Wilson said, "I think the claims that millionaires are going to leave our state are, like, super overblown," and added, "And if — the ones that leave, like, bye," while making a brief waving gesture. The clip quickly circulated online and became a focal point for critics.
Starbucks employees and supporters strike in front of the former Starbucks Reserve Roastery that closed earlier in the year, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Seattle.
Reactions From Business And Civic Leaders
The editorial cited concerns from local industry leaders about the state’s business climate. It quoted Microsoft President Brad Smith as saying he is "probably more worried right now about the business climate in Washington than at any point over the last 30 years." Critics argued the mayor’s tone was dismissive of those worries and emblematic of a broader divide between progressive policymakers and business stakeholders.
Mayor’s Background And Policy Positions
Wilson is a longtime progressive activist and co‑founder of the Transit Riders Union. During her activist career she supported a "Solidarity Budget" proposal that would have reduced Seattle Police Department funding substantially—by as much as 50% in the proposal’s most aggressive form—drawing fire from opponents concerned about public safety and fiscal priorities.
The episode has intensified debate over whether recent tax and policy choices will alter Seattle’s economic trajectory, and whether political leaders are adequately addressing business and taxpayer concerns. The Washington Post editorial framed Wilson’s remarks as evidence of an attitude among some leaders that risks alienating affluent residents and employers at a precarious moment for the state’s economy.
Reporting note: The Washington Post editorial and a viral video of the Seattle University event are the primary sources for the criticisms cited in this story. Fox News Digital staff contributed reporting on related reactions and developments.
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