I doubt any Trump will run for Potus in the future if releasing tax returns becomes MANDATORY.

[FM123]

What do you think, my fellow DU friends - should there be a federal law requiring a candidate for president to release his or her tax returns? Or individual states requiring candidates to release tax returns or they can not be on the state ballot? I am interested to know your thoughts about this....

[Irish_Dem]

1. He would just refuse to comply, with some lame excuse.

And no one can or will enforce the rule.

So no it would not stop him in the least.

[SoonerPride]

2. Law? Since when do laws matter to republicans?

No, really. Since when?

🤷🏻‍♂️

[Dream Girl]

3. I wonder if this would be constitutional

[Under The Radar]

6. If 2/3rds vote is needed in the Senate, nothing is possible.

[Mr. Ected]

4. Whatever MAGA wants, the Trumps do, law be damned

When "popularity" (actually blackmail) trumps the law, you no longer have a democracy.

This is the threat from the right: "We'll do whatever we want and we DEFY you to take us on!"

[Fullduplexxx]

5. He'll promise to and then if he wins he wont if he loses he still wont

[Pantagruel]

7. Dems should loudly endorse the idea

Make it a Party rule, accept no non-compliant candidates and challenge the GOP to do the same.

[BComplex]

8. I totally agree. We don't need anymore crooks running the world.

Ever.

[StarfishSaver]

9. Release of tax returns cannot be a condition for running for or serving as president

That would be a violation of the Constitution since it adds an additional qualification not provided for in the Constitution.

BUT

Congress can require candidates for president - once they become candidates - to release their returns, just as they require them to file financial disclosure and other information. They can simply add tax returns to the information required to be provided as part of the financial disclosure.

Of course, he wouldn't have to comply and would be subject only to a fine, which he might gladly pay. But I'm researching whether Congress could authorize the Treasury Department to release the returns in the event the candidate refuses to, since they will have possession of them.

[Coleman]

10. It can't become mandatory

The Constitution provides the only qualifications for office. If you want to add tax returns, you need to amend the Constitution.

[StarfishSaver]

13. It could be made mandatory, but couldn't be a condition of becoming a candidate or serving

It could, however, be made a mandatory disclosure that all candidates have to do.

Do you understand the difference? It's nuanced but important.

[PatSeg]

11. That would be an excellent start for sure

Anyone running for political office should be subject to the strictest requirements, especially the President of the United States. Just think how many potential candidates would automatically be eliminated, if they knew they had to release at least two decades of tax returns. We need to use the horrific events of the last four years to improve the stability of our democracy for upcoming generations, by insisting on greater transparency from our public officials.

This needs to be a legal requirement, not just tradition, being not all are honest and trustworthy.

[StarfishSaver]

14. It can be a requirement for all candidates, but it cannot be a condition for becoming a candidate

[PatSeg]

16. Yes, good point

[FakeNoose]

12. The party won't choose him (or any Chump) as their nominee

... but see, that's not the point. All they want is to grift from the campaign contributions. Any kind of campaign gives them another chance to grift. Also the free TV time, that's another form of grifting.

So the rule about releasing tax returns won't apply to any Chump. I do believe the rule should be set up though. It would discourage a lot of the wannabee's.

[servermsh]

15. IMHO, it requires a Constitutional Amendment. n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

17. He won't run, either way. Any way. Because he could lose again.

He WILL say he's going to run. He will take millions of fool's money. He will never run again.


1.) He will never allow for the possibility of another loss and attendant humiliation like that again. He will never have the advantage of the presidency to pay all his campaign expenses again and he cannot be 100% guaranteed to win, so he will never expose himself to losing again.

2.) As of now he can do literally everything he wants to do without the constrictive bother of actually holding office, so what would he want with an actual job?

[FM123]

18. Wow! Thank you for all the responses.

You certainly have made some good points - and brought up important additional issues that go along with this.