President Donald Trump is receiving criticism after The New York Times reported that he paid no income tax in 10 out of the past 15 years.
According to the Times, Trump did not pay taxes those years “largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.”
However, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told ABC’s “The View” on Monday that he is not too sure about the accuracy of the story. However, he said, “I don’t think it’s an issue that frankly impacts a whole lot of Americans.”
“As I talk to people in Texas, the number one issue everyone is worried about is jobs. They want to reopen small businesses, they want to go back to work,” he continued.
He added, “So, you know, a stolen or leaked copy of the president’s tax returns, I get The New York Times wants to drive this as an attack on Donald Trump. But, I don’t see a lot of people in Texas who this is front and center for them.”
Watch the video below:
.@SenTedCruz reacts to ‘The New York Times’ reporting Pres. Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017: “I don’t know if it’s accurate or not. I don’t think it’s an issue that frankly impacts a whole lot of Americans.” https://t.co/RlCqSeEcfS pic.twitter.com/jiZQBveObO
— The View (@TheView) September 28, 2020
Cruz also argued that it is “often the case that the super-wealthy end up paying a lot less” because there were portions of the tax law that allow them to do so.
He reiterated his view that the amount Trump paid income tax, or did not pay, is not the main issue on a lot of Americans’ minds.
While Cruz said he did not have that much of a concern about the Times’ report, Congressional Democrats blasted the president.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted, “In 2016 [and] ’17, I paid thousands of dollars a year in taxes *as a bartender.* Trump paid $750.”
“Donald Trump has never cared for our country more than he cares for himself. A walking scam,” she added.