The New York Times has a long and somewhat rambling article that, admittedly, has some surprising details that will actually help Trump (not taking full deductions in the pandemic), but ultimately, the returns showed that during the money-tight year of 2020 (COVID), Trump did not make a single charitable contribution (Not one! Most people, even those who make under $35,000 make charitable contributions of some kind). But the lack of charitable contributions eviscerates the idea that Trump donated his salary:
As a presidential candidate in 2015, Mr. Trump said he would not take “even one dollar” of the $400,000 salary that comes with the job. “I am totally giving up my salary if I become president,” he said. In his first three years in office, Mr. Trump said he donated his salary quarterly.
But in 2020, his last full year in office, the documents show that Mr. Trump reported $0 in charitable giving. Also in 2020, as the pandemic recession swiftly descended, Mr. Trump reported heavy business losses and no federal tax liability.
Limited by “Fair Use” and only three paragraphs, I’m going to skip down below to the final paragraphs in the article that are jaw-dropping. The Republicans believe that this is some kind of new invasion of privacy, when it had been entry-level presidential candidate stuff, and are now threatening “private citizens,” apparently believing that Trump – as president – qualified as a private citizen and not the head of the government.
After threatening to go after Biden’s family (Biden did provide his taxes), the Republicans interviewed talked about the looming “threats.”
“Going forward, all future chairs of both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee will have nearly unlimited power to target and make public the tax returns of private citizens, political enemies, business and labor leaders, or even the Supreme Court justices themselves.”
No. Publishing the tax returns of a former president who continuously refused to release his returns based upon being “audited” (And was not under audit) and the need to see financial details that may or may not appear in his federal taxes, such as conflicts – devil in details, is not akin to targeting private citizens, political “enemies,” business and labor unions, or SCOTUS justices, who undergo the most thorough background check such that they likely do have to provide tax returns. at least prior to sitting on the court. And if there is a disturbing pattern of spending, income, and cases, is it that bad to publicly look at the tax returns?
Again, this situation is so exclusive to the problems Trump created that it should have no applicability outside of a president who refuses to disclose his financial holdings and status. Again, there was some favorable stuff for Trump, and it was dutifully reported by the savage New York Times. From the New York Times article, it would seem to me that the most embarrassing part of the audit was that he made no charitable contributions in 2020. All of this must also be considered in light of the money Trump made by overcharging the Secret Service to stay at his Hotels and resorts ($1.4 million) and vacationing almost exclusively at his places, charging for golf carts. ($740,000) Sometimes it seems precisely because he could milk the Secret Service. Obama played primarily at the military course in Washington to make security easier.
Regardless, between the good and the bad, so far, from this article, it seems like almost a draw (other than the lies) except it’s possible that Trump is upset because the numbers aren’t all that big.
Another bizarre Republican response. If the IRS wants to audit Hunter Biden and prosecute him, they are more than welcome to do so if he violated the law – same with Biden, actually, and we’ll hear why. We already know that it seemed as though Trump’s IRS targeted his enemies with audits, so maybe it won’t be that different when the GOP is in charge.
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[email protected], @JasonMiciak, Substack: Democrats Poised to Remain in the majority for two decades if 2023 is done correctly.
I disagree with anything concerning Hunter Biden what does he have to do with the running of our Country? But, let’s l👀k nepotism right in the Political 👀 eyes with 💯% Accountability in the IRS Income Taxes for Ivanka Trump, don,jr. , Eric Trump,daddy trump and don’t forget Jared and his $2 BILLION$$$ Dollar??? What exactly was it ?? In addition to whatever he got while in the WH.
Why is it no surprise that Trumpy Dumpy didn’t donate a dime? He’s always been for himself and no one else. I don’t think we’ve ever had a more vile politician. Most people have a bit of a conscience….not that guy.
Come on. Let’s give baby huey some credit. He doesn’t give a rat’s ass about anyone else and he spent his money accordingly. ZILTCH!
hahahahahahahaha…….HA. Lips moving – lying. So simple and not surprising.
I don’t get the GOP’s argument. Trump is a private citizen NOW but he was President through the entire 2020 calendar year so WTF is the issue with reporting out his taxes for that year? Oh silly me! This is the GOP where things like logic are dirty words.
Also he could have released his own taxes while being audited. The IRS can’t release them without a request from a very limited number of people, including Way&Means (which went through the legal process to get them).
As if the GOP weren’t actively salivating at the idea of PRESIDENT* Trump’s taxes being released so they could use it to support their already-planned effort to force the release of their own enemies’ taxes at every opportunity.
Ultimately, I think the courts will slap down almost every single GOP attempt to force tax returns of someone the GOP claims to be investigating since–again–COURTS NEED EVIDENCE before making a judgment. The GOP will HAVE TO PROVE A NEED for those returns to be released; courts don’t do it out of partisan spite. I mean, virtually every court that supported the Dems’ efforts for Trump’s tax returns had conservative justices supporting the requests and that’s because the Dems went to the courts with LEGITIMATE requests, not the mere fishing efforts the GOPers will be doing.
And, of course, Trump could’ve just done like EVERY OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE had done for the previous 40+ years and just released his tax records and any claims of “partisan witch hunt” would’ve gone out the window (at least, regarding the taxes). But Trump had a reputation that he needed to protect and his tax returns would’ve shown all his suckers the truth: He was nothing more than a con man whose cons had gone unchecked for far too long. (Also, his, um, “creditors” would’ve been lining up to see who could get what Trump owed them first because the first in line would get the bigger share of what they were owed.)
And, as has been noted for years (and reiterated by others in the comments), Trump himself could have released his returns even while his returns were being audited. The IRS is prohibited from releasing anyone’s returns (under audit or not) but that doesn’t mean the person under audit can’t make them public.
*I really hated the idea of all-capping the word but needed to emphasize it some way to distinguish it from “private citizen’ Trump.
Everytime I see that picture…I think SUPERHERO! Maybe the magat crowd should switch it up and use Rory McIlroy’s body. Now that’s a good looking torso.
Fuck the GOP. They are congenital LPOS. I suspect if we required that all taxes be public record the IRS would be very busy prosecuting private citizens and corporations. The US is the most corrupt nation in the world. Trump would not tell the truth if it bit him in the ass.
I think it should be a requirement for anyone running for President to have to show their Tax returns .