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Actually Mr. Trump, Turns Out Americans 'Care a Lot' About Your Tax Returns
Contradicting the president-elect's claim, a new survey found that nearly half of his own supporters want him to release his financial documents
Jan 16, 2017
President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that the American people "don't care at all" about whether he releases his tax returns. Turns out, he was wrong.
In fact, new ABC News/Washington Post polling data released on Monday shows that 74 percent of all Americans, including 49 percent of his own supporters, say he should release his tax returns.
What's more, the number of people curious about Trump's finances has risen since he's been elected. "In May, 64 percent said he should release the returns, and in September, 63 percent said he was not justified in withholding them," ABC News reports.
Last week, the incoming president held a news conference during which he announced that he would not divest his holdings in his business empire and stood by his refusal to release his tax documents.
"You know, the only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters, OK? They're the only ones," he said, in response to a question from a journalist.
"You don't think the American public is concerned about it?" the reporter followed up, according to CNN.
"No, I don't think so. I won. And became president," Trump said. "No, I don't think they care at all. I don't think they care at all. I think you care."
As it happens, a full 41 percent of Americans went so far as to say they "care a lot" about Trump releasing the records.
As for approval of Trump's controversial plan to hand over control of his real estate empire to his adult sons, that appears to be determined by political affiliation.
According to the survey, 42 percent of all Americans, and 71 percent of Clinton supporters say he should sell his business, compared to just 10 percent of his supporters.
Opinions as to whether Trump, his family, and advisers are complying with federal ethics laws also shifted with ideology.
"Seventy-nine percent of Republicans say Trump is complying with ethics laws, dropping to 44 percent among independents and just 16 percent of Democrats," the survey found. "Similarly, it's 72 percent among strong conservatives, slipping to 56 percent among 'somewhat' conservative Americans, then plummeting to 37 percent of moderates and 25 percent of liberals."
The data is a preview of an extensive pre-inauguration survey produced Langer Research Associates, which will be released in full on Tuesday morning.
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Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that the American people "don't care at all" about whether he releases his tax returns. Turns out, he was wrong.
In fact, new ABC News/Washington Post polling data released on Monday shows that 74 percent of all Americans, including 49 percent of his own supporters, say he should release his tax returns.
What's more, the number of people curious about Trump's finances has risen since he's been elected. "In May, 64 percent said he should release the returns, and in September, 63 percent said he was not justified in withholding them," ABC News reports.
Last week, the incoming president held a news conference during which he announced that he would not divest his holdings in his business empire and stood by his refusal to release his tax documents.
"You know, the only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters, OK? They're the only ones," he said, in response to a question from a journalist.
"You don't think the American public is concerned about it?" the reporter followed up, according to CNN.
"No, I don't think so. I won. And became president," Trump said. "No, I don't think they care at all. I don't think they care at all. I think you care."
As it happens, a full 41 percent of Americans went so far as to say they "care a lot" about Trump releasing the records.
As for approval of Trump's controversial plan to hand over control of his real estate empire to his adult sons, that appears to be determined by political affiliation.
According to the survey, 42 percent of all Americans, and 71 percent of Clinton supporters say he should sell his business, compared to just 10 percent of his supporters.
Opinions as to whether Trump, his family, and advisers are complying with federal ethics laws also shifted with ideology.
"Seventy-nine percent of Republicans say Trump is complying with ethics laws, dropping to 44 percent among independents and just 16 percent of Democrats," the survey found. "Similarly, it's 72 percent among strong conservatives, slipping to 56 percent among 'somewhat' conservative Americans, then plummeting to 37 percent of moderates and 25 percent of liberals."
The data is a preview of an extensive pre-inauguration survey produced Langer Research Associates, which will be released in full on Tuesday morning.
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that the American people "don't care at all" about whether he releases his tax returns. Turns out, he was wrong.
In fact, new ABC News/Washington Post polling data released on Monday shows that 74 percent of all Americans, including 49 percent of his own supporters, say he should release his tax returns.
What's more, the number of people curious about Trump's finances has risen since he's been elected. "In May, 64 percent said he should release the returns, and in September, 63 percent said he was not justified in withholding them," ABC News reports.
Last week, the incoming president held a news conference during which he announced that he would not divest his holdings in his business empire and stood by his refusal to release his tax documents.
"You know, the only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters, OK? They're the only ones," he said, in response to a question from a journalist.
"You don't think the American public is concerned about it?" the reporter followed up, according to CNN.
"No, I don't think so. I won. And became president," Trump said. "No, I don't think they care at all. I don't think they care at all. I think you care."
As it happens, a full 41 percent of Americans went so far as to say they "care a lot" about Trump releasing the records.
As for approval of Trump's controversial plan to hand over control of his real estate empire to his adult sons, that appears to be determined by political affiliation.
According to the survey, 42 percent of all Americans, and 71 percent of Clinton supporters say he should sell his business, compared to just 10 percent of his supporters.
Opinions as to whether Trump, his family, and advisers are complying with federal ethics laws also shifted with ideology.
"Seventy-nine percent of Republicans say Trump is complying with ethics laws, dropping to 44 percent among independents and just 16 percent of Democrats," the survey found. "Similarly, it's 72 percent among strong conservatives, slipping to 56 percent among 'somewhat' conservative Americans, then plummeting to 37 percent of moderates and 25 percent of liberals."
The data is a preview of an extensive pre-inauguration survey produced Langer Research Associates, which will be released in full on Tuesday morning.
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