The White House has responded to Rachel Maddow’s announcement that she has a copy of one of President Donald Trump’s tax returns. Calling the MSNBC host “desperate for ratings” after her announcement, on Twitter, that her show had obtained his 1040 form from 2005, the statement further says that Trump paid $38 million in taxes for that year.
Reuters reporter Emily Stephenson first posted the image of the White House statement on Twitter.
The statement read in part:
“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. Before being elected president, Mr. Trump was one of the most successful businessmen in the world with a responsibility to his company, his family and his employees to pay no more tax than legally required. That being said, Mr. Trump paid $38 million even after taking into account large-scale depreciation for construction, on an income of more than $150 million, as well as paying tens of millions of dollars in other taxes, such as sales and excise taxes and unemployment taxes, and this illegally published return proves just that. Despite this substantial income figure and tax paid, it is totally illegal to steal and publish tax returns. The dishonest media can continue to make this part of their agenda, while the President will focus on his, which includes tax reform that will benefit all Americans.”
The White House released the statement before Maddow’s broadcast, which began at 9 p.m. EST.
