Trump is Rattled
It's almost as though Trump committed all kinds of tax fraud and knows he's about to get caught https://t.co/ntU34xy7bE
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 22, 2021
The opening paragraph of this excellent article in Vanity Fair magazine gets straight down to brass tacks:
"Every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter has released their tax returns with the exception, of course, of Donald Trump. After lying about being unable to share them due to a “routine audit” and claiming that he would do so just as soon as he got the green light, Trump proceeded to spend the next four-plus years doing everything in his power to ensure such information never saw the light of day—almost as though he had something to hide! So you can imagine his reaction when the Supreme Court decided on Monday to reject his last-ditch attempt to shield his returns, which certainly sounds like that of a guy who’s committed all manner of tax fraud and is concerned about the possibility of spending a good chunk of his twilight years in prison."Trump - Some Patriot! (22/10/20)
So Donald Trump pays more tax in China ($188,561) than he does in America ($750) - some patriot!
Tax Dodger Trump (15/03/17)
The Guardian reports that Donald Trump campaigned to abolish a tax which was introduced in America 50 years ago to ensure that the country's 'mega wealthy' citizens paid a fairer share of income tax.
Significantly Mr Trump also failed to explain how much this would have benefited his own business interests.
Says something about the character of the man, if you ask me.
But the White House is now complaining bitterly despite the fact that Trump welcomed leaks during the presidential election when they were damaging to political opponents such as Hillary Clinton.
Read The Guardian piece in full via the link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/14/donald-trump-tax-return-leaked-alternative-minimum
Donald Trump tax returns: president had to pay millions due to tax law he aims to scrap
A section of the president’s 2005 tax return revealed that about 85% of what he paid the IRS was incurred due to ‘alternative minimum tax’
Significantly Mr Trump also failed to explain how much this would have benefited his own business interests.
Says something about the character of the man, if you ask me.
But the White House is now complaining bitterly despite the fact that Trump welcomed leaks during the presidential election when they were damaging to political opponents such as Hillary Clinton.
Read The Guardian piece in full via the link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/14/donald-trump-tax-return-leaked-alternative-minimum
Donald Trump tax returns: president had to pay millions due to tax law he aims to scrap
A section of the president’s 2005 tax return revealed that about 85% of what he paid the IRS was incurred due to ‘alternative minimum tax’
Donald Trumped pledged to eliminate the ‘alternative minimum tax’ altogether when he was campaigning for president. Photograph: Julie Jacobson/Associated Press
By Sabrina Siddiqui, Jon Swaine, and Julia Carrie Wong - The Guardian
Donald Trump’s leaked tax return reveals that the businessman had to pay tens of millions of dollars in a single year because of a tax rule that he has specifically promised to abolish as president.
A two-page section of Trump’s tax return for 2005, which was published by MSNBC late on Tuesday, revealed that the president paid $38m in federal taxes on more than $150m in income in 2005.
President paid $38m in 2005, leaked document reveals – as it happened
MSNBC report sparks angry response from the White House as return shows that Trump made more than $150m and paid $38m in taxes
But the documents also showed that about 82% of the total paid to the Internal Revenue Service that year by Trump and his wife, Melania, was incurred due to a tax that Trump has said should be abolished.
The “alternative minimum tax” (AMT), which was introduced to ensure the mega wealthy pay a fairer share of tax, comprised $31m of Trump’s tax bill compared with $5.3m in regular federal income tax. In the run-up to November’s election, Trump pledged to eliminate the AMT altogether, meaning the president campaigned for a change in the tax law that would have benefited him.
The publication of the paperwork prompted immediate condemnation from the White House, which accused MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow of breaking the law and preemptively released figures from the same year.
“You know you are desperate for ratings when you are willing to violate the law to push a story about two pages of tax returns from over a decade ago,” a Trump administration official said in a statement.
By Sabrina Siddiqui, Jon Swaine, and Julia Carrie Wong - The Guardian
Donald Trump’s leaked tax return reveals that the businessman had to pay tens of millions of dollars in a single year because of a tax rule that he has specifically promised to abolish as president.
A two-page section of Trump’s tax return for 2005, which was published by MSNBC late on Tuesday, revealed that the president paid $38m in federal taxes on more than $150m in income in 2005.
President paid $38m in 2005, leaked document reveals – as it happened
MSNBC report sparks angry response from the White House as return shows that Trump made more than $150m and paid $38m in taxes
But the documents also showed that about 82% of the total paid to the Internal Revenue Service that year by Trump and his wife, Melania, was incurred due to a tax that Trump has said should be abolished.
The “alternative minimum tax” (AMT), which was introduced to ensure the mega wealthy pay a fairer share of tax, comprised $31m of Trump’s tax bill compared with $5.3m in regular federal income tax. In the run-up to November’s election, Trump pledged to eliminate the AMT altogether, meaning the president campaigned for a change in the tax law that would have benefited him.
The publication of the paperwork prompted immediate condemnation from the White House, which accused MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow of breaking the law and preemptively released figures from the same year.
“You know you are desperate for ratings when you are willing to violate the law to push a story about two pages of tax returns from over a decade ago,” a Trump administration official said in a statement.
Donald Trump’s 2005 tax return. Photograph: MSNBC
Donald Trump is posing here in a flight jacket and admiral's cap during a recent visit to an aircraft carrier, but it's worth pointing out that America's commander-in-chief is a 'draft dodger' who received no less than five deferments from serving in the Vietnam War.
Apparently one of these deferments was down to 'bone spurs' in both heels although this condition didn't seem to hold Trump back during his four years at university during which time he was regarded as a 'student athlete' who played football, basketball, baseball tennis and squash.
Clearly, self-obsessed narcissists like Trump have no qualms about indulging in such cowardly. shameless behaviour.
Draft Dodger Trump (11/03/17)
Donald Trump is posing here in a flight jacket and admiral's cap during a recent visit to an aircraft carrier, but it's worth pointing out that America's commander-in-chief is a 'draft dodger' who received no less than five deferments from serving in the Vietnam War.
Apparently one of these deferments was down to 'bone spurs' in both heels although this condition didn't seem to hold Trump back during his four years at university during which time he was regarded as a 'student athlete' who played football, basketball, baseball tennis and squash.
Clearly, self-obsessed narcissists like Trump have no qualms about indulging in such cowardly. shameless behaviour.
Donald J. Trump, center, as a high school senior in 1964 at the New York Military Academy.CreditNew York Military Academy
Trump 'Gets Tough' With China (03/07/20)
Stung by criticism over his lack of leadership during the Coronavirus pandemic Donald Trump suddenly decided to 'get tough' with China.
Yet only days ago Trump was sucking up to China and President Xi like nobody's business.
Trump 'Throws Granny Under Bus' (16/04/20)
Donald Trump has suspended America's funding of the World Health Organisation because the WHO wasn't tougher on China.
But here's what Trump himself had to say about China only a days ago - boasting of his good relations with President Xi and proclaiming "Much respect" for the Chinese government.
I think its fair to say Trump wouldn't hesitate to throw his Scottish granny 'under the bus' if he thought it was in his own selfish interests.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-5228905
Coronavirus: US to halt funding to WHO, says Trump
Media caption - Trump said the WHO had "failed in its basic duty"
US President Donald Trump has said he is going to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) because it has "failed in its basic duty" in its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
He accused the UN agency of mismanaging and covering up the spread of the virus after it emerged in China, and said it must be held accountable.
In response, the UN's chief said it was "not the time" to cut funds to the WHO.
Mr Trump has been under fire for his own handling of the pandemic.
He has sought to deflect persistent criticism that he acted too slowly to stop the virus's spread by pointing to his decision in late January to place restrictions on travel from China.
He has accused the WHO of having "criticised" that decision and of being biased towards China more generally.
"I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus," Mr Trump told a news conference at the White House on Tuesday.
Image copyright - AFP/GETTY Image caption - The WHO has often praised China for its handling of the outbreak
The US is the global health body's largest single funder and gave it more than $400m in 2019.
A decision on whether the US resumes funding will be made after the review, which Mr Trump said would last 60 to 90 days.
The WHO is yet to directly respond but UN Secretary General António Guterres said the international community should be uniting "in solidarity to stop this virus".
"It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world's efforts to win the war against Covid-19," he said.
Germany's foreign minister tweeted that strengthening the "under-funded" WHO was one of the best investments that could be made at this time.
The US is the global health body's largest single funder and gave it more than $400m in 2019.
A decision on whether the US resumes funding will be made after the review, which Mr Trump said would last 60 to 90 days.
The WHO is yet to directly respond but UN Secretary General António Guterres said the international community should be uniting "in solidarity to stop this virus".
"It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world's efforts to win the war against Covid-19," he said.
Germany's foreign minister tweeted that strengthening the "under-funded" WHO was one of the best investments that could be made at this time.
What is the WHO - and who funds it?
- Founded in 1948 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, it is the UN agency responsible for global public health
- Has 194 member states, and aims to "promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable"
- Involved in vaccination campaigns, health emergencies and supporting countries in primary care
- Funded by a combination of members' fees based on wealth and population and voluntary contributions
- US provided 15% of its 2018-19 budget - with more than $400m
- China gave about $86m in 2018-19; UK gives most of any country apart from the US
The WHO launched an appeal in March for $675m to help fight the coronavirus pandemic and is reported to be planning a fresh appeal for at least $1bn.
Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, said on Twitter: "Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds."
Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, said on Twitter: "Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds."
Image Copyright @BillGates@BILLGATES
Report
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the second-largest funder of the WHO.
Report
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the second-largest funder of the WHO.
