Kamala Harris says Trump has a lot of explaining to do about his taxes


Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) took a question from vice presidential debate moderator Susan Page about presidential candidates disclosing information about their personal health and used it to attack President Trump on his taxes.
Harris said that "absolutely," candidates should provide details on their health to the public, and that's why Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has been "so incredibly transparent, and certainly by contrast with the president, who's not, both in terms of health records but also, let's look at taxes."
Harris praised The New York Times' investigative journalists who published a massive article on Trump's taxes, based on financial records the reporters said they received from people with legal access to them. The Times reports that in 2016 and 2017, Trump only paid $750 in federal income taxes, and Harris said when she "first heard about it, I literally said, 'You mean $750,000.' No, $750."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The public now knows that Trump "owes and is in debt for $400 million," Harris continued. "Just so everyone is clear, when we say in debt, it means you owe money to somebody, and it would be really good to know who the president of the United States, the commander in chief, owes money to, because the American people have a right to know what is influencing the president's decisions and is he making those decisions on the best interest of the American people, of you, or self-interest."
Vice President Mike Pence responded that Trump called the Times' report "not accurate," and has released "stacks of financial documents" for the public to review. He also credited Trump with paying "tens of millions in taxes — payroll taxes, property taxes."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
US, China extend trade war truce for 90 days
Speed Read The triple-digit tariff threat is postponed for another three months
-
Europe counters Putin ahead of Trump summit
Speed Read President Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this week for Ukraine peace talks
-
Israeli security cabinet OKs Gaza City takeover
Speed Read Netanyahu approved a proposal for Israeli Defense Forces to take over the largest population center in the Gaza Strip
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Thailand, Cambodia agree to ceasefire in border fight
Speed Read At least 38 people were killed and more than 300,000 displaced in the recent violence
-
Israel 'pauses' Gaza military activity as aid outcry grows
Speed Read The World Health Organization said malnutrition has reached 'alarming levels' in Gaza
-
US and EU reach trade deal
Speed Read Trump's meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen resulted in a tariff agreement that will avert a transatlantic trade war
-
At least 12 dead in Thai-Cambodian clashes
Speed Read Both countries accused the other of firing first