Records obtained by The New York Times show Donald Trump declared a $916 million loss on his 1995 income tax returns, a tax deduction so substantial it could have allowed him to legally avoid paying any federal income taxes for up to 18 years.
Reacting to these reports, Russell Roybal, deputy executive director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund issued the following statement.
“The basis of any income tax system should be that everyone pays their fair share. In Donald Trump’s world, the very rich pay nothing, transferring the tax burden to those families who make the least. What’s more, Trump’s proposed economic policies won’t help the middle class and those on lower incomes get to economic security and prosperity. Instead of proposing policies under which everyone pays their fair share, he’s pushing for more perks for the rich. As we heard in the first presidential debate, Mr. Trump believes that not paying your fair share of federal income tax is ‘smart’; actually it sets the wrong sort of example if you want to lead this country. Just imagine trying to explain to your kids that everyone must pay income tax in our nation — except the president. Even the Queen of England pays taxes.”
