Trump: Voters in 2016 ‘didn’t care’ I withheld tax returns

President Trump tweeted on Saturday that voters did not care whether he released his tax returns during the 2016 election, bucking a tradition set by presidential candidates in past elections. 

“I won the 2016 Election partially based on no Tax Returns while I am under audit (which I still am), and the voters didn’t care,” he said. 

“Now the Radical Left Democrats want to again relitigate this matter. Make it a part of the 2020 Election!” he added. 

I won the 2016 Election partially based on no Tax Returns while I am under audit (which I still am), and the voters didn’t care. Now the Radical Left Democrats want to again relitigate this matter. Make it a part of the 2020 Election!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2019

Trump’s tweet follows a Friday announcement by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.), who said he has subpoenaed six years’ worth of the president’s returns. Neal previously requested Trump’s tax returns for the years 2013 to 2018 on April 3, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin rejected the request, saying it did not have a legitimate legislative purpose.{mosads}

Democrats also have escalated their calls for Trump’s tax returns following a New York Times report based on the president’s IRS statements from decades ago. The newspaper reported that the 10 years of 1980s and 1990s returns showed that Trump lost $1.17 billion and paid income taxes during just two of those years. 

Trump has refused to disclose his tax returns, repeatedly insisting that he is not allowed to do so because they are “under audit.”