Over the weekend, the New York Times released an expose on President Trump's newly leaked tax returns from the past two decades. The Times claims they obtained these records from a source that has "legal access" to the records. What were the findings? According to the records, 10 of the past 15 years President Trump paid no federal income tax and paid just $750 in 2016 and in 2017. How did he manage to avoid paying federal income tax? By writing off a large amount of losses that he took within his business empire. While President Trump claimed that he earned $434.9 million in a 2018 financial disclosure, according to his tax records, he racked up $47.4 million in losses. Why keep all of this secret? Aside from the privacy argument, it's reported that President Trump is facing an IRS audit over the $72.9 million tax refund he received and it could cost the President over $100 million.
With this new revelation, do you think it will change the outcome of the election or in other words, people who were on the fence are now not inclined to vote for President Trump? This information released by the New York Times is clearly ammo for the Biden camp and you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be ads coming out saying you paid more money in taxes than a millionaire President Trump; are you okay with that? That honestly is the big question now. Even if you are a Trump support and an average Joe, can you defend the fact that you paid more money in taxes than our millionaire President? Do you think that a guy who owns Mar-A-Lago should only be paying $750 in taxes? Do you think a guy who owns his own private jet should only be paying $750 in taxes? I don't. I don't think that's fair at all and I think this newly released info will indeed hurt Trump. Now will the hard Trumpers still support him and defend him? Of course. Some how some way, Trump will be defended. A big way to do this is use the information (which I also take aim with) that is even though someone has "legal access" to someone's tax returns does not mean someone has the "legal authority" to release those records. That is true and I find fault with that. However here we still are with this information that is now out there and what do you make of that information. We can keep saying but this person leaked the info, it's not right, they need to be punished...yes they do but that aside what do you make of the tax returns because that is something we can't ignore or at least I can't...I predict you will hear Trump supporters who are secretly unhappy with this information who deflect any mention of this by saying "but this individual" did something illegal. That will not answer your question, it will be the deflecting response.
Will this information affect voting? I think in some swing states, yes. I'll admit I don't know many independent, "in the middle" folks when it comes to this election. The majority of people I know are either on the left or the right when it comes to this election and people have already made up theirs minds. I have to remember that in swing states there are actually more moderates who will take this information and make a deciding vote based on it whereas for people around here in New England who appear to be either hard right or left regarding their opinion of Trump, this will make no difference. This election has just gotten more interesting and so has tomorrow night's debate because you better believe one if not more of the questions asked will be directed at Trump having to answer for these tax returns and how he can defend it.
-Producer Lightning
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