President Trump's Taxes: Critics Call On White House To Release Returns

Critics of President Trump kept up calls Tuesday for the release of his tax returns, an issue that has hung over him since early on in the campaign. Trump has repeatedly said he would release his tax returns after the IRS finished a routine audit, but there's no indication of when that will happen or any reason why they can't be released while an audit continues.

Tuesday morning, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, said on NBC's "Today" show, “The issue is not over. He promised during the campaign that he would reveal his taxes.”

Over the weekend, protesters in so-called "Tax Marches" also called on the president to release his returns. Trump responded with a tweet claiming, without evidence, that the protests were paid for. He added: "I did what was an almost an impossible thing to do for a Republican-easily won the Electoral College! Now Tax Returns are brought up again?"

When asked Monday about the returns, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the audit was continuing and Trump would stick by what he said during the campaign. One reporter asked point blank whether or not it was time to admit that Trump will never release his taxes, Spicer said, "We'll have to get back to you on that."

Some are asking Congress to force Trump to be transparent on this issue. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and a defender of Trump, was booed by constituents at a town hall Monday night when he downplayed the need to see the returns. Other Republicans, however, have joined those calling for greater disclosure on the part of the president.

"Absolutely, Donald Trump should release his tax returns," said Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, at a February town hall.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio trolled the president on Twitter Tuesday as he released copies of his own taxes. "See, President Trump?" he wrote. "It's not that hard."

Releasing taxes has been a standard part of the process for presidential candidates in recent history, and Trump himself encouraged then-candidate Mitt Romney to release his tax returns during the 2012 primaries. Trump's returns have been of particular interest because of his significant wealth and the opacity of much of his financial empire — and his refusal to release his returns has only compounded the public's curiosity.

In January, 60 percent of respondents to Pew Research Center said Trump should release his tax returns, while only 33 percent said he was under no obligation to do so. With tax reform coming up soon on the legislative agenda, calls for the release of the president's returns aren't likely to go away. It will be very difficult to avoid the question: Will Trump's tax plan benefit him?

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images