/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/1202825327/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=5040&cropY1=0&cropY2=2833&w=1200&resize=1200,675&ssl=1 "Democrats Attack Trump On Twitter Following Report He Paid 0 In Taxes")
Topline
A bombshell report in the New York Times detailing President Trump’s tax information dating back two decades led to a social media onslaught from many prominent Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, on Sunday evening, in what is undoubtedly just the first in a series of salvos Trump’s foes plan to launch at the sitting president in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 29: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks at a news conference … [+]
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Key Facts
The Times claims they obtained Trump’s taxes, which he has refused to disclose, and reported that the president paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years, as he declared he lost much more money than he made.
“Shock of shocks! Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed billionaire, received a $72.9 million tax refund from the IRS while not paying a nickel in federal income taxes in 10 out of 15 years,” tweeted Senator Bernie Sanders. “Yep. Trump l-o-v-e-s corporate socialism for himself, rugged capitalism for everyone else.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote, “In 2016 & ’17, I paid thousands of dollars a year in taxes *as a bartender.* Trump paid $750. He contributed less to funding our communities than waitresses & undocumented immigrants,” adding, “Trump has never cared for our country more than he cares for himself.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that “it is a sign of President Trump’s disdain for America’s working families that he has spent years abusing the tax code while passing a GOP Tax Scam for the rich that gives 83% of the benefits to the wealthiest 1%.”
New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. said, “the emperor has no clothes,” and quoted a line from the Times report which read: “Ultimately, Mr. Trump has been more successful playing a business mogul than being one in real life.”
“Donald Trump paid just $750 in income taxes in 2016 and 2017. He knows better than anyone that there’s one set of rules for the wealthy and giant corporations and another for hardworking Americans—and instead of using his power to fix it, he’s taken advantage of it at every turn,” wrote Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Key Background:
Speaking with reporters Sunday evening at a news conference in the White House briefing room, Trump denied the NYT report. “It’s fake news,” he declared. “It’s totally fake news. Made up. Fake.” The president said the IRS treats him “very badly” and, although he would be “proud to show” his tax returns, he can’t because he is under audit. Trump refused to say precisely how much he paid in federal income tax but insisted that he’d paid “a lot” of money in taxes. The Biden campaign wasted no time using this new ammunition against their opponent. Within hours of the publication of the Times report, the campaign released an ad contrasting the $750 Trump reportedly paid in 2016 and 2017 to the average income taxes paid by Americans in various careers, such as $5,283 for firefighters, $7,239 for school teachers, $10,216 for nurses.
Big Number:
$70,000: That’s the amount Trump paid to have his hair styled during his years on “The Apprentice,” according to the Times report. Trump wrote off the cost of his haircuts as a business expense.
Critical Quote:
“Last year Republicans blasted a firehose of hatred + vitriol my way because I treated myself to a $250 cut & lowlights on my birthday,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Sunday. “Where’s the criticism of their idol spending $70k on hairstyling? Oh, it’s nowhere because they’re spineless, misogynistic hypocrites? Got it.”
Further Reading:
Biden Campaign Quickly Capitalizes On Report Trump Paid $750 In Federal Taxes (Forbes)
LONG-CONCEALED RECORDS SHOW TRUMP’S CHRONIC LOSSES AND YEARS OF TAX AVOIDANCE (NYT)
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