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
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.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just four days to go in our Spring Campaign, we are not even halfway to our goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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.
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.

