Donald Trump avoids paying US taxes

Donald Trump paid only $750 in federal taxes in 2016 and 2017, the year he ran for president and his first year in office.^[1] While in office, Barack Obama and George W. Bush often paid over $100,000 each year in taxes. In contrast, between 2013 and 2015, Trump paid nearly $200,000 in taxes to China, where he held a bank account.^[2] Trump has also paid more than $750 in taxes to other countries where he has business operations, such as Panama, India and the Philippines.^[3] There have also been suggestions that Trump has paid gifts disguised as consultancy fees to his daughter Ivanka in order to avoid taxes.^[4] In the last 20 years, Trump has paid $400 million less in federal income taxes than the average for individuals of his wealth.^[1] Trump has refused to publish his tax returns, contrary to presidential practice - Joe Biden has released his tax returns for the last 22 years.^[5] A wealthy businessman avoiding tax is one thing, but a wealthy businessman who is also president avoiding tax is another. The president acting so clearly acting against the spirit of government and the interests of the American is highly problematic.