Trump Tweets on Obama Transparency - (6/6/12) "Why is Barack Obama spending millions to try and hide his records? He is the least transparent President ever -- and he ran on transparency." --- (7/17/12) "For the sake of transparency, Barack Obama should release all his college applications and transcripts -- both from Occidental and Columbia." --- (10/26/12) "If Obama doesn't accept my offer to be fully transparent, what will he say?" --- (10/31/12) "In the spirit of transparency, Obama should immediately release the 9.11 tape of Tyrone Woods pleading for military support in Benghazi."
These tweets relate to Trump's refusal to release his tax returns; also, they relate to the recent decision to not release the logs for White House visitations.
Trump Tweets on Striking Syria - (8/29/13) "What will we get for bombing Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict? Obama needs Congressional approval." --- (8/30/13) The President must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria -- big mistake if he does not!"
Trump Tweet on Flynn Immunity - (3/31/17) "Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that there is a witchhunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!"
Michael Flynn had asked for immunity before he would testify before intelligence committees. Flynn had joined in the chant of "Lock her up!" at the Republican National Convention. He wanted to lock Hillary Clinton up but his new chant could be stated as "Don't lock me up!"
Donald Trump had once said that asking for immunity is indicative of guilt.
Trump Tweet on China Currency Manipulation - (4/16/17) "Why would I call China a currency manipulator when they are working with the North Korean problem? We will see what happens." --- (4/16/17) He said he was confident "that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A."
Just because China may help us with North Korea doesn't resolve the issue of whether or not China is a currency manipulator.
Trump Tweet on the Military and Tax Returns - (4/16/17) "Our military is building and is rapidly becoming stronger than ever before. Frankly, we have no choice!" This tweet makes no sense. --- (4/16/17) "Someone should look into who paid for the small organized rallies yesterday. The election is over!" (4/16/17) "I did what was almost an impossible thing to do for a Republican -- easily win the Electoral College! Now tax returns are being brought up again?"
Trump routinely claims that any demonstrations against him are paid for and he grossly underestimates the size of the demonstrations. He also exaggerates the size of his Electoral College win, no matter how inappropriate the setting is. Both Trump and his "alternative facts" senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, contend that the election win resolved the tax returns issue, when polling has consistently shown a majority wanting him to release his returns.
ADDENDUMS:
*The fiduciary rule that would require retirement advisers to give their clients investment advice that is in their best interest is being delayed pending a review by the Department of Labor. Under President Obama, the White House Council of Economic Advisers estimated that the failure to put the clients' interests first cost Americans $17 billion a year.
*Judicial Watch has slammed President Trump for deciding to not voluntarily disclose who visits the White House complex. It says it mirrors the Obama administration on visitor logs and violates the Freedom of Information Act, even though Obama did partially release visitor information.
*President Trump has signed a bill that will allow states to withhold money for family planning services, such as birth control.
*A lawyer representing the Trump administration told U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick that the executive order targeting so-called sanctuary cities and counties was "narrow" and would not result in a loss of massive funds to governments that refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities.
*The Associated Press is reporting that as part of Trump's tax reform proposal, consideration is being given to eliminating the FICA contributions to Social Security. Because only the first $127,000 of wages are taxed, Trump's allies are calling this a middle-class tax cut.
*Beneficiaries of the carried interest loophole in the tax code are private equity partners and hedge fund moguls, who are allowed to treat a portion of their multimillionaire-dollar-a-year incomes as capital gains and therefore pay only 20% taxes on them, compared to the 39.6% tax ordinary mortals pay. Although Trump touted the elimination of the loophole found in his December 2016 written tax proposal, it is not clear that the loophole will actually be eliminated.
There are conflicting reports that the White House is working on a rewrite of Trump's December 16 proposal. Given that the GOP-controlled U.S. House of Representatives is also working on a tax plan, there could be dueling tax plans in circulation.
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