Ann Coulter is not “our” ally. She is not the ally of Democrats or progressives or liberals or Americans. She’s a hateful, racist, xenophobic troll. But about twice a year, Ann Coulter will say or tweet something that even *I* will begrudgingly say “well, she’s not exactly wrong.” Is it Coulter’s way of keeping people honest? Is she trying to avoid being seen as the biggest hack out there? I have no idea. But Coulter had some thoughts about Donald Trump’s tax returns, and the fact that he only paid $750 in the tax years of 2016 and 2017.
I don't think the conservative take on @realDonaldTrump paying no taxes should be: BECAUSE HE'S SMART!
I've paid nearly 50% of my income in taxes, year after year, and any system that allows billionaires to pay ZERO is unspeakable corrupt.
How about changing it, Democrats?
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 29, 2020
Wait, she’s paid 50% of her income in taxes? It actually sounds like she’s paying too much. She’s a millionaire because dumbf–k conservatives buy her stupid books, and she gets paid to speak at those stupid GOP conventions and all of that. Surely there are more deductions she could take which would lessen her taxable income? Anyway, this whole “Trump tax” situation reminds me *slightly* of the Mitt Romney tax thing, except Romney was actually a brilliant capitalist villain who understood finance at the highest level. Romney also paid very little in federal income tax, and I remember the criticism then: at some point, a billionaire taking every deduction and using every legal loophole is just tacky and unpatriotic. That’s what Ann Coulter is saying – it’s patriotic to pay your taxes and NOT look for every scam, every loophole, every deduction.
Also: I genuinely laughed at “How about changing it, Democrats?” That’s a preview of what Republicans will be saying if and when they lose the presidency, the Senate and the House. Suddenly they’ll be like “well why don’t YOU fix this and this and this??” Why didn’t YOU, you treasonous motherf—kers?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
That creepy feeling when I realize I agree with Ann Coulter… Yeesh!
I cringe every time when she says something remotely reasonable and the progressive twitter, including erupts in pleasure and can’t wait to retweet her and give her exposure. She is a hateful racist bitch who should be ignored, no matter what she utters.
“She is a hateful racist &**(^*^ who should be ignored, no matter what she utters.”
Exactly that and until progressive learn to be more astute about these things they will forever be left in the dust by the vicious right wingers. So unbelievably gullible it hurts my heart to watch.
She fails to recognize the Trump administration’s 2017 tax law that was supported by GOP House and Senate that drastically cut taxes for billionaires. The GOP’s tax legislation is the embodiment of the fat cats getting more cuts and loopholes to play with.
Don’t let them pretend that our tax laws benefit the wealthiest just out of chance. This has been a GOP priority for decades. We need to hold them all accountable.
Her blaming D’s is so preposterous it’s laughable. Far too many Americans know less about U.S. politics than Europeans do about the U.S.’s. eda: Obviously this viper knows about politics.
Probably sees the writing on the wall of Trump’s imminent demise on nov 3. She’ll be tweeting she never liked him on nov 4. Also she’s sad because her “I’m in a cocktail dress at 10am spewing punditry on cable” act is wearing thin. Probably hisses at the tv at various Fox bottle blondes who have taken up her schtick.
AC takes jabs just to stay relevant & sell books/speaking engagements. One day we’ll agree w something logical but surprising, & POOF she’s VISIBLE,,, the next she says she wants a 17yo domestic terrorist for the next POTUS…Dont’ trust this white lady demoness
Key word: allows. She’s making the case that Trump might be a jerk but he’s not a tax fraud felon. He’s going to jail when this is done and they all know it.
Mark my words: he will NEVER see the inside of a jail. Never.
Hear, hear, Tanguerita. I’m under no such delusion either.
(Would LOVE to be proven wrong.)
@Tanguerita Yuuuuuup.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see this whole family behind bars but that is never going to happen and I really hope that people aren’t in the frame of mind that the war is over just because everyone knows he’s a tax cheat. None of the numerous illegal things he’s done so far have hurt him at all – this isn’t going to stick either.
@Godwina Probably not as much as I do. Well, who am I kidding? I am sure just as much. But the extent of brazen impunity when it comes to punishment of his ilk that we’ve witnessed in the past four years has made me absolutely hopeless.
@Tanguerina: I’m very torn about this. Half of me agrees with you because he’s gotten away with absolutely everything for his entire life; there’s a reason he’s known as “Teflon Don.”
BUT I’m a NY’er and NY’s AG is positively badass. I believe that it is only NY that has jurisdiction over him at this point. And she does *not* mess around. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a team standing at the doorstep of the White House ready to arrest and cuff him the moment he steps (or is dragged) out. My guess is that if he’s given any time, he will flee the country.
Who knows what will happen but I think it could go either way.
@Lorelei does he have money to flee the country? Not sure about it – and, once out of the White House, he won’t be of any use to Putin, so no chance of being kept on payroll. And I like Leticia James too, but at the end of the day it won’t be her decision, I am afraid. Besides, we are getting ahead of ourselves – he still might get reelected.
I don’t know, deducting your hair stylist seems like fraud to me. Didn’t I hear he deducted that?
He’ll claim he got advice from lawyers. That’s a huge defense for these fat cats.
What she will never say is that *her* boys passed the most regressive tax bill in history two years ago.
Wrong place.
As someone who is not very familiar with how the IRS works, I was actually wondering – why isn’t the IRS being held responsible for allowing such such criminal negligence? Who are the IRS people who just say “Ok, we’ll give this guy who keeps loosing money and doesn’t pay taxes more money and perks”? Like, why is the IRS even there if it can’t do the job? Trump has been avoiding paying taxes for years and got MORE money. The police is held responsible. The local governments are held responsible. What is this IRS that everyone is so afraid of except for the very rich?
The IRS doesn’t give money and perks, the internal revenue code (i.e. a code of tax laws passed by Congress) does. I agree with your point that the system is corrupt, it’s just that Congress needs to be held accountable for passing crooked tax laws not the IRS.
And Ann f–king Coulter asking Democrats to hold the ultra wealthy accountable for paying taxes is f–king rich. The Republican calling card has always been about tax breaks and accusing Democrats of taking all your hard earned money. This is why we bounce back and forth every presidential and congressional party change b/c the Republicans f–k up our finances and Democrats have to come in and fix it.
The IRS has been systematically underfunded and understaffed for years. As a result. they really don’t have the auditing and enforcement power that they had in decades past. Particularly against wealthy people who have complex tax returns and can hire the best tax attorneys, accountants, etc – the IRS can’t compete. So guess who gets audited? For the most part, people of less means who will not put up as much of a fight.
Something of interest I heard on a cable show last night – Huge refunds (over $2M – certainly the $70M Orange received) are supposed to go before some type of congressional review.
The host’s question was, how does the irs simply issue these multi-million refunds without some type of immediate scrutiny? Guest answer was – They aren’t supposed to! They are actually to be bumped outside of the IRS before being paid.
Cool. Peak 2020. I agree with Ann Coulter.
I know, Megan. Kill me now. I actually agree with part of what Ann freaking Coulter is saying. Did anyone by chance see any of the four horsemen riding by?!?!
well, Coulter is definitely one of them.
She’s really only speaking out against him because they’re no longer friends. If they were, she would be justifying this. She’s not suddenly seeing “better” or whatever.
Yes, all of “them” are like this. If they are able to benefit, they will support; when that is gone so is their support. And since one hand won’t wash the other hand – they are both dirty.
Just because she’s correct doesn’t mean she’s now reasonable. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
I agree with her, but I do not – and never will – trust her.
Well, I do think she’s right that arguing “he’s just smart!” isn’t going to work that well here (again, not with the base, but with those people who are still somehow undecided.)
I wasn’t mad at Romney for his taxes, I was mad at the system that let him get away with paying that little. But I think this is different because there is so much corruption going on, plus the insane amount of debt he owes to “Someone.”
Becks51 is free with you. I understand the principal of being able to write off debt etc in taxes and for businesses being able to use it over a number of years. It helps start up businesses actually have a chance of getting going etc. But does in fact get used as a loop hole by rich assholes. I’m not horribly mad at the $750. It sucks but I’m not surprised he has good tax accountants who figured shit out. I’m like you concerned about the amount of money owed, to whom it is owed, why it is owed, and when it is due. That’s really the bigger story here and one I feel is being missed by the uproar over something that is unfortunately probably legal.
They didn’t “figure it out.” They are money laundering. They are scamming the system. They are doing ILLEGAL things to do so. How many lies had to be told and winks had to be made and heads turned the other way for this to be approved? Trust me, if you or I were doing this with our finances, we would be in jail.
Finagling to avoid paying taxes is reneging on the social contract built into our political system. I’m angry about it, and I don’t understand people who aren’t–the person who is supposed to be steering the ship for us is eating steak and throwing half of that steak away while the rest of us are starving and have scurvy. That doesn’t make him a smart person, it makes him a trash person.
We can be angry at both things and people haven’t missed that point, they just are prioritizing their outrage. What the average person will zero in on is the fact that he pays way less than they do and he’s a billionaire, it’s right that the media is focusing on that. Those alphabet agencies should be investigating the debt he owes to who. For the sake of the election, voters should be considering that a billionaire pays less than a working class pay check to pay check cashier.
I don’t think they figured it out in a legal way. I think they fradulently reported inflated deductions to make it appear that he was not making money. There are very specific rules about what you can deduct and in what amount. You don’t get to just write off literally every expense you have because you own a business, much less make up expenses you never even incurred (*cough $70,000 haircuts cough*)
I read today that the most audited county in the country is a poor mainly black county in the south somewhere (Georgia maybe). They’re audited because they use the earned income tax credit and irs is constantly checking up on that. But billionaire grifters, no problems. Ugh system is seriously out of whack and trump tax cuts made it even worse.
Becks1, I have heard people state: but he is so smart to be able to do this. Yeah I reply, why don’t you try it and see where you end up.
He has either lost so much money this is what he owes or he cheated on his taxes. Or both. He is neither as rich as he says and he cheats on his taxes.
Considering this country was stolen by rich, colonizing slave owners and traders, did non wealthy white people think they would be the exception?
@Tiffany Duh. That is the premise of racist poor white people voting against their own interests. They idolize Trump because they believe they can obtain his “status” someday.
She may indeed pay 50% taking into account state and local taxes as well as federal. I’m not super excited about her post because she seems to be saying the system is corrupt, not the Current Occupant.
I agree with the commenters above that the real concern is who is holding all his debts. That was always the reason to see his taxes. Not to 1) find out if he’s really a great businessman — of course he’s not or 2) see if he paid “enough” — of course he was going to be using every dodge he could.
Yes, if she lives in NYC then if she’s taxed at the highest rates for federal state and local she is close to that amount.
Well the fact the system is corrupt is quite important. She’s insulted (rightfully) trump in other tweets I think. This is about the tax system. He can’t be the only one who got an accountant sleeve enough to make that happen
He’s your shit stain, you fix it.
Haha! I can’t help it but this made me laugh! It’s true tho.
She’s right that that’s an issue the Democrats will have to fix.
Not because that’s their job or their fyck-up or anything, but because it’s pretty clear Republicans won’t go there, not even close. So yeah, while it shouldn’t be on Democrats, it is on Democrats.
“That’s a preview of what Republicans will be saying if and when they lose the presidency, the Senate and the House. Suddenly they’ll be like “well why don’t YOU fix this and this and this??”
If the Democrats add to their majority in the House and get a strong majority in the Senate then they can begin to fix things.
And then Republicans will say to the American people: “see? We TOLD you democrats will raise taxes. Vote them out!” And the American idiots will do just that because this “fix it” mantra will have been forgotten. Rinse and repeat.
being in hock hundreds of millions of dollars to undisclosed foreign investors isn’t smart.
these trump people better get food tasters b/c russia doesn’t play.
This is the conservative fallacy of taxes. She’s not paying 50% conservatives hem and haw about taxes when the highest marginal bracket is 37%. They act like military budgets, roads, and police services just automatically appear then rage that they heard about this one person who used her welfare on getting her nails done. They never know the woman, but they know she’s black.
Taxes make shit happen, taxes make places and the quality of life nice when they are used appropriately. And it’s fucking insane that the people who benefit most from tax breaks and successes are often on the backs of the working class all happen to be rich and typically white.
But I agree with Anne. It’s ridiculous and corrupt. So please let us vote Dump out and move forward.
If she lives in NYS she will pay 8% state income tax. And if in the city also a city tax.
Interesting. So, by not paying his fair share of taxes, Trump is effectively defunding the police.
And the highways, and the firefighters, and everything else in the social contract. Defunding the police is about reallocating funds so police don’t have to attempt social work, etc. It is amusing that you try to correlate not paying taxes to not paying for ONE service that taxes are meant to cover.
My apologies, Merricat; I am well aware of the difference; I was just – rather clumsily -trying to point out the irony of Trump actually committing the breach of the social contract of which hens his gaslighting sycophants accusing legitimate protestors. Every Trump supporter who thinks the Day-Glo Dolt is clever for evading taxes should be asked if they expect to drive on a publicly-maintained road, visit a National or State Park, receive Social Security, or be rescued from a house fire.
Sorry I’m so touchy–I try not to jump to the worst conclusion, but that is hard to do in Trump’s America.
I don’t know where she lives, but she’s probably telling the truth about her tax rate. I live in NYC, and between city, state, and federal taxes, I pay 50% in taxes too. (To be clear, I’m not complaining: being in this tax bracket is a hugely privileged position to be in and I believe in paying my fair share to maintain a functional society.)
The people who get screwed the most by the tax rates are those with income around $300k. They get taxed the same as those that make billions.
I think the biggest problem with the tax laws are that wages, (money earned from actual WORK or labor), is taxed so much higher than income that is earned through non-labor. The wealthy get a break, simply because their income comes from having money and assets.
Even an a broken clock is right twice a day.
Billionaires should not exist. Period. End of.
Typical Republican nonsense. Oh look, here’s a problem WE created; why haven’t YOU fixed it, Democrats?
Ann was feeling lonely and wanted some attention, nothing more.
She can give the Conways a call if she needs some sympathy.
Too bad she conveniently omitted the “massive tax reform” her party crowed about 2 years ago.
^^^^^THIS!!!!!
Such an important point, and I don’t see it being made frequently enough. If people are outraged by the tax laws, they should know the GOP is to blame.
That is the talking Point he is so smart, a good businessman. What about the fraud? He took deductions but they were outrageous. Taking $70,000 for haircuts, double dipping Ivanka with paying her outrageous consulting fees as well as a salary as an employee? And the fact that he owes millions and millions of debt to who? He uses loans to pretend he is successful but eventually he has to pay them off. Then he used loans to pay off loans in another kind of ponzi scheme. Who would give him loans? Russia? What a fraud and tax fraud gets you jail. And I knew some people who said they voted for him because he was a successful businessman, not a career politician. There should be a law to require presidential candidates to release tax returns because of conflicts of interest.
I clicked into a conservative article reporting on the NYT story out of morbid curiosity and you’re right they don’t report any details about the tax fraud they just say, no lie, the NYT story proves that Trump has no ties with Russia and that he has a very good tax accountant. And all the comments are variations on “yay, no tax is ultimate goals” or deflections to Biden such as “isn’t it a coincidence that he had this campaign ad about taxes ready so quickly after the story came out” and really poorly constructed arguments about like Biden earning income as a public servant and paying taxes (?) oh and blame shifting Trump’s fraud to Biden b/c apparently he is personally responsible for the tax code as a lifetime politician. It’s really hard to read, it’s just a bunch of gaslighting techniques.
Ann Coulter does not give a single damn about anything that does not directly affect her. I don’t need her verification that tax evasion is wrong.
I love how ultimately the theme of her content is that it’s unfair that she pays more taxes than he does and that’s the Democrats fault.
She’ll usually say a lot of stuff that is true actually. It’s just then she blames Mexicans for it! And shell say the USA is great because it’s Christian. Aren’t Mexicans also Christian, MORE Christian than Americans as far as I can tell? She has this obsession with the border wall. People who walk across the border because they are desperate and are willing to work are not a problem. Even if they send money back, still, they are a huge asset. They take undesirable jobs thus making many services and products available /affordable in the USA which is not the case in Canada or Europe. They don’t buy up the real estate like corrupt foreign millionaires do in the best North American cities, parking their money here. If she would talk about those immigrants I may be interested but she has drawn so many odd conclusions over the years. I guess being logical doesn’t sell books
Well said, I agree.
She is a lot of things but not stupid. I would be surprised to find that she believes most of what she says, she just figured out how to monetize her words. The fact that she is willing to say this publicly means she feels her base has turned. I’ll take it!
What a liar she is. The US highest tax rate is 37%. Like everyone else she pays on a graduated basis so each bracket of income is taxed at an increasing percentage up to a maximum of 37%. I hate people that exaggerate to make a point that would be perfectly valid without the hyperbole. Reminds me of Trump.
That’s just federal taxes, though, right? Between federal, New York State, and New York City taxes, my personal effective tax rate is 50%.
Absolutely.
If we all paid our fair share America would be in a much better shape where average people wouldn’t feel like they have to hoard all the money they can just in case.
Nards – Ann Coulter was my Halloween costume! I was going to hurl chocolate bars from my porch screaming ‘Get a Job you Minor Free loaders!’ Now I need to find my turtle face for McConnell, scythe and eggs to throw screaming Save the Chickens!!
Thanks a lot Ann!! 😡
He isn’t “smart” and neither are his accountants. They’re all criminals.
The day this broke, my dad sent a tongue-in-cheek text to our accountant, asking her why he pays more in taxes than this orange buffoon. Her answer: “Because you’re not a crook.”
I’ve never heard of anyone paying that much and even if she is (doubtful) she needs to hire a new CPA.
As for her “democrat” comment, she forgets that the Dems at the moment only control the house. Nothing is going to change until after the next election.
Trump is no hero for cheating the taxman, he’s a criminal and he will he brought to justice. Back in the day the only thing they could get on Al Capone on was tax evasion. They couldn’t get him for the rackets or illegal booze or murder but they managed to get him though his taxes. I think in a way what happened to him put the fear of the IRS into the minds of generations of taxpayers. If they could get Capone who was “untouchable”, they could get anyone.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they do get this dirt bag, and everyone associated with him. Some higher ups should lose their jobs and also do some jail time for letting is corrupt actions pass.
Said it yesterday- wanted to say again that he is not taking advantage of loopholes etc. He is committing tax fraud to an unbelievable degree. BIG difference. I don’t agree with the loopholes, but at least they are legal. This piece of trash needs to have some type of fallout! He has gotten away with every illegal and immoral action forever. Enough!
I have never read any of Ms Coulter’s books – just some of the titles of them are disturbing. I do think that her, and others like her, don’t believe a lot of what they say and write. They know, however, that there are millions willing to pay good money to listen to them and buy their books, so they are cashing in while they can and laughing all the way to the bank. They think little of their country and the damage they do – they think only of their bank accounts. It is disgraceful.
Where his tax returns really become important is the process of comparing them to his loan applications with Deutsche Bank. I believe that one set of documents is possibly not going to be like the other. I also believe that one or both sets of documents may turn out be out and out “confabulations”. These kinds of shenanigans are felonies.
What irks me is that she blames the system rather than Trump- both are to blame. And yet it’s just as important to note that Trump is paying so little in taxes not because he’s smart but because he has no business acumen and has lost millions year after year in his businesses that Allows him to claim these losses. He has over 400 million in debt coming due in the next 4 years that he is personally liable for. He probably ran for president in the first place to increase his brand and try to make more money to help fill the rising debt gap. the Daily’s podcast today about this issue was insightful and I recommend everyone listen to it.
the cognitive dissonance is strong with this one. she is part of that very system.
Has Ann been abducted by aliens? I find myself agreeing with her on this one. She must be a Stepford bot. Something is off.
If he doesn’t go down for this, I’m telling you everyone even judges are in bed with this turd. He is a disgrace, and the most corrupt thing I know. They all need to be held accountable for allowing DT slide on all his illegal activities.
I’m so mad right now to be even vaguely on the same side of anything as Ann Coulter.
It’s hilarious that she thinks “owning the libs” involves outrageous bit of racism or classism, when all she really need do is agree with me. Horrifying!
I feel you 100% when you say the back and forth, why don’t you fix it? Why don’t YOU fix it? You know, I’m not saying people should be perfect, but if you’re going into the highest position in the country, you should have a decent set of morals you’re working with. Right-wing Christians who think this guy is behaving like a Christian?? On what planet??
Yes, she’s correct on this one lonely issue, but I still hate her and always will. She’s an obnoxious, asshole, nobody who’s only goal in life is to be relevant………………………………..and she isn’t!