# Donald Trump, tax avoider **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 27, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696 "2020-09-27T21:49:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/101 "2020-09-28T15:54:21Z")
Yeah, look, I am as cynical as anyone when it comes to the ability to move the needle with Trump voters. I have known one thing all along: impeachment about complicated shit they don’t understand and don’t even want to understand (i.e. campaign finance, Russia, etc) is NOT going to move the needle. Technical violations of the Constitution, of arcane laws like the Hatch Act, the Logan Act, and whatever else…pfff, good luck with that. Most Americans don’t even know who the Framers of the Constitution were, FFS. Many probably can’t even find Mexico on a map, lol. But when you show people at least something that purports to be substantial evidence that a titan of capitalism might not be such a genius after all, that’s something that might actually sting a little bit, particularly in light of the other obvious failures (like the coronavirus response and the current economic fallout). It’s frustrating that it requires constant effort to convince people that Trump is a fraud, but I think that is the only way to beat him. You have to be relentlessly fighting him and his ilk with the truth. You have to keep asking ‘No really, where is your money? How did you make it?’ I’m disappointed that they’re just now coming out with this information when they probably could have dug this up sooner. It proves to me that all of the focus on impeachment, on Mueller, on Russia-gate was a huge distraction. News gatherers should have known, should have had the common sense, all along that it was all about his money. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/102 "2020-09-28T16:00:33Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Most Americans don’t even know who the Framers of the Constitution were, FFS. Far more dismaying are the numbers of people who, on being presented with isolated statements from the Bill of Rights, think they’re some sort of commie propaganda. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/103 "2020-09-28T16:01:56Z")
Oh but “fake news” has actually worked quite well: it’s a short, simple explanation. That’s exactly the most effective way for him to handle it from his perspective. The worst thing you can do is to be seen on camera squirming, giving lawyerly defenses with technical explanations. That’s one huge reason why Hillary Clinton lost the election. She fell right into the GOP trap of trying to give detailed, valid responses to utterly bullshit charges against her. Trump, by contrast, has been deluged with a mountain of very legitimate, well-sourced, well-founded allegations, and he responds with very simply explanations: “They’re out to get me.” That’s actually a very effective way to respond, so he will keep using that defense until it stops working. The question is, how can it stop working? Well it stops when journalists who are covering the race refuse to let this issue become just another news cycle. They have to make this a real story and they can’t stop until they get answers, much like the COVID response. But I have my doubts that the news media are committed to anything other than selling advertising. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/104 "2020-09-28T16:04:44Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > If he lost so much money on his businesses that he didn’t owe taxes, that means he’s a _lousy_ businessman. This is not news, since he couldn’t even make money running casinos. Much more complicated than that I am afraid. Amazon posted [negative net income for years and still barely has any profits.](https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/8/21/20826405/amazons-profits-revenue-free-cash-flow-explained-charts). The long and the short of it is that making money and making a profit hasn’t had much relationships with each other for a few decades now and Donad Trump was one of the pioneers of this. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/105 "2020-09-28T16:08:11Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I think Trump is handling this poorly and _that’s_ going to knock a few undecideds off the fence. If his tax returns indicate how much of a smart businessman he is, he shouldn’t be calling them fake news. But of course that’s what he’s doing because he’s an idiot. If he actually was paying substantial income tax as real estate guy then he would be a really really lousy businessman. And an idiot and imbecile. Since he seems to be these anyway, I suspect his accountants are much more on the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/106 "2020-09-28T16:16:28Z")
“Tax returns with sharpie” > **[Trump Shows A Fake Hurricane Map Altered With A Sharpie, Inspires 30...](https://www.boredpanda.com/trump-sharpiegate-fake-hurricane-map-memes/?utm_source=duckduckgo&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=organic)** > > Trump insisted that hurricane Dorian had a “95% chance” of hitting Alabama, even though the National Weather Service denied it. And, boy, did the internet love where this was going. The memes started coming in fast and furious, and Trump was the butt... ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/107 "2020-09-28T16:18:10Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Nah, he will release them in two weeks. Well of course. They have to self-quarantine first. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/108 "2020-09-28T16:23:24Z")
People who support Trump won’t care that he’s not a real billionaire. All that matters is that he sure “lives” like one and that’s all that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/109 "2020-09-28T16:29:30Z")
Film/Television productions have hair stylists on payroll. There is zero reason for him to be taking that as a business expense deduction. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/110 "2020-09-28T16:32:17Z")
I don’t think a narcissist will use just any stylist. Especially when your hair and skin is that “special.” What we really need to find is the doctor’s note that uses his narcissism diagnosis to justify the expense… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/111 "2020-09-28T16:33:39Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I don’t think a narcissist will use just any stylist. Especially when your hair and skin is that “special.” What we really need to find is the doctor’s note that uses his narcissism diagnosis to justify the expense… - He hasn’t written it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/112 "2020-09-28T16:34:55Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I don’t think a narcissist will use just any stylist. Especially when your hair and skin is that “special.” What we really need to find is the doctor’s note that uses his narcissism diagnosis to justify the expense… Understood, but a hair stylist is literally a line item on a production budget. Stars demanding a certain stylist is used is actually not completely unheard of, but they are hired and become part of the production budget. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/113 "2020-09-28T16:40:33Z")
If you are suggesting that it’s a fraudulent deduction, I’m there for you. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/114 "2020-09-28T16:49:49Z")
The first necessary reform is compulsory and complete financial disclosure for all presidential candidates. For all we know, Putin might be threatening to foreclose on half of his properties. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/115 "2020-09-28T16:50:39Z")
It doesn’t shock me that he pays a hair stylist so much. It does shock me that he pays a hair stylist so much and still looks like that. The net effect on the election is zero. Those who love him will continue to do so and make excuses for him. Those that don’t love him aren’t voting for him anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/116 "2020-09-28T16:59:42Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > The first necessary reform is compulsory and complete financial disclosure for all presidential candidates. For all we know, Putin might be threatening to foreclose on half of his properties. I don’t even think that it needs to be compulsory. Simply write a loophole into IRS privacy law: the tax records of anyone who files to place their name on a ballot for president become public record and may be received via a Freedom of Information Act request. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/117 "2020-09-28T17:00:22Z")
True, but Amazon always had cash flow and a growing market share, which is why investors flocked to it. There was something of value in Amazon, which is a publicly-traded company and subject to SEC rules. Not making profits is probably where the similarities between Trump and Amazon end. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/118 "2020-09-28T17:02:48Z")
States could also start enacting their own election regulations by stating that anyone who appears on a ballot must disclose tax returns. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/119 "2020-09-28T17:04:18Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I don’t even think that it needs to be compulsory. Simply write a loophole into IRS privacy law: the tax records of anyone who files to place their name on a ballot for president become public record and may be received via a Freedom of Information Act request. That’s not enough. You can’t get a full financial picture and possible conflicts from just the tax returns. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696/120 "2020-09-28T17:07:50Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I predict that his supporters will sing some variation on the tune: “That just means he’s a good businessman!” My Pit posting: When presented with a meme comparing what Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Donald Trump paid in taxes in 2017 ($3,742,974, $516,469, $343,882, $268,484, and $750, respectively), a FB friend replied: > Obviously, Trump is an even bigger genius than I originally thought. Of course they were going to look at his taxes, duh! You do realize he is setting the stage for all of these well-known crooks listed here and beyond to be regularly audited, along with their close family members. They’ve all been in the corrupt world long enough to know what their taxes need to look like to pass the sniff test, but they haven’t been quite as thorough w/all of their family members. Stay tuned, this won’t be about Trump’s taxes for very long [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696.md?page=7)