In a move destined to trigger detractors, Donald Trump has said he is considering releasing his tax returns, but only AFTER his presidency concludes.
“Oh, at some point I’ll release them. Maybe I’ll release them after I’m finished because I’m very proud of them actually. I did a good job.” Trump told a reporter with The Economist.
When the reporter asked if the President is considering releasing the returns as a bargaining tool to get Democratic votes on his tax reform package, Trump was adamant.
“I would never do it. That would be … I think that would be unfair to the deal. It would be disrespectful of the importance of this deal.”
“The only people that find that important are the reporters,” Trump added.
Trump’s opponents have repeatedly suggested that his refusal to release tax returns is because they contain information that would place the President’s position in jeopardy.
However, there has been no evidence to suggest this is the case.
When MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow obtained one of Trump’s tax returns from 2005, it showed nothing other than the fact that he paid $38 million in federal income tax on just over $150 million in income.
Trump supporters were quick to point out that this figure was a tax rate of roughly 25%, compared to MSNBC’s parent company Comcast which paid 24%, Barack Obama (19%) and Bernie Sanders (13%).
Thank you Rachel Maddow for proving to your #Trump hating followers how successful @realDonaldTrump is & that he paid $40mm in taxes! #Taxes
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 15, 2017
When it quickly became apparent that the story was a ‘nothing-burger,’ Maddow changed tack and suggested that Trump’s accounts had to be ‘sterling’ that year, because his wife was attempting to gain citizenship.
In his latest interview, Trump also once again declared that the entire topic is a non-issue.
“Well, don’t forget I got elected without it. Somebody said, ‘Oh but you have to do it,’ I said, ‘Look where I am,'” Trump said.
“I was, you know, I was out front, I was asked that question, every debate, I said, you know, I’m under routine audit.”
Trump clarified “I might release them after I’m out of office.”
SJW snowflakes immediately went into meltdown on Twitter:
I Care! #Repeal45 36% RT @politico: .@realDonaldTrump: “Nobody cares about my tax return except for the reporters” https://t.co/ytLRG5sRtO
— Doug Goodman (@purpleH2Oski) May 11, 2017
"Nobody cares about my tax return except for the reporters."
Trump just keeps repeating the same lies.#MAGA? https://t.co/8rGipaPQiO— MikeBates (@MikeBates) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck #Wrong What is the orange buffoon hiding? #ReleaseTAXES
— Dale Kowcenuk (@dkrussell61) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck That is not true at all. I'd love to see all of the Russian stuff on those returns
— Bob Coulter (@bobmass2003) May 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/DeathBecomes_Me/status/862677995550593024
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck This man does nothing but lie, lie, lie!!!
— Candace Craig (@CandaceCraig17) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck D-E-L-U-S-I-O-N-A-L!!
— Debbie Leslie (@Leslie17Debbie) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck LIAR. We ALL CARE
— Cat (@Catheri31022868) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck Soooo, like in the next few months @realDonaldTrump? #TickTock
— It'sMySoundtrack (@ItsMySoundtrack) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck @HuffPostPol @realDonaldTrump I'm not a reporter and I want to see your taxes #trumptaxes
— Michael Dela Cruz (@the_mdlc) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck More diversionary tactics from @realDonaldTrump
— Bob Goff (@BobStangoff) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck Lies….we all want to see his tax returns.
— Elizabeth (@lulu_lisa2) May 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/MartynGreysmith/status/862679555173167104
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck Where does he get his information? It's ok Don the Con, just keep talking to Russian reporters–they won't ask you anything about taxes.
— Tony Healy (@TonyHealy4) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck @realDonaldTrump That's not true. I care about your tax returns. Lets see them.
— Tammy Reynolds (@ReynoldsTammy) May 11, 2017
@HuffPost @EmilyRPeck And the thousands upon thousands of people who marched in protest asking to see your returns…but hey, what are facts right Trumpy?
— Chandra (@chandra_1127) May 11, 2017
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