NBC's Chuck Todd Presses RNC Chair Reince Priebus On Trump's Refusal To Release Tax Returns

Todd: Trump Is “A Private Businessman Whose Companies May Or May Not Benefit From Him Being President. That's Something Voters Should Want To Know” 

From the August 28 edition of NBC's Meet the Press

Video file

CHUCK TODD (HOST): One final question when it comes to the issue of the Clinton Foundation and tax returns. I want to ask it this way. Donald Trump's been hitting [Hillary Clinton] hard on the Clinton Foundation and saying all sorts of behind the scenes, pay for play allegations. Does he have -- does it undercut his message if he won't release his tax returns? Would he have some higher ground, be on higher ground here when criticizing Clinton's finances if we saw his tax returns? 

REINCE PRIEBUS: No I don't think so. 



TODD: By the way, Roger Stone is the latest Republican to call for Donald Trump to release his tax returns, a close friend of Trump's.



PRIEBUS: No I don't think so. Because if you look at what Hillary Clinton has done -- I think when voters look at what Hillary Clinton actually did, they see somebody that they believe broke the law. They see somebody who gave away state secrets. They see somebody that went out of her way -- 



[...]



We know that Hillary Clinton shouldn't be trusted with national secrets and with the most precious -- the most precious information that our country has in their hands. We know she can't be trusted. Are you equating that the known conclusion that she can't be trusted with state secrets to what could be in Donald Trump's taxes? 



TODD: We've had a history of every major nominee releasing their tax returns, Reince. Every major presidential nominee. And by the way, he is a private businessman whose companies may or may not benefit from him being president. That's something voters should want to know. 

Previously

Here Are All The Reasons Media Think Trump Is Not Releasing His Tax Returns

ABC's Stephanopoulos Grills Trump Campaign Manager Over Tax Return Flip-Flop

Watch Trump's Campaign Manager Dodge Questions About Tax Returns