Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity claims that MSNBC’s disclosure of some of President Donald Trump’s 2005 tax return is proof of a “corporate jihad” against the administration.
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and reporter David Cay Johnston discussed two pages of Mr. Trump’s 1040 form on Monday night. The documents were a letdown to the president’s critics; they were informed that he paid $36.5 million in income taxes on $153 million in earnings.
“NBC News in particular is on a political jihad against the president and his administration,” Mr. Hannity said in response to the story. “Now it’s a clear and present danger that has emerged and it’s threatening our democracy and the will of the people, because we have people in our government today who are committing felonies now on a weekly basis. These saboteurs, they’re trying to prevent the president from doing the job that you, the American people, elected him to do.”
The Fox host went on to read portions of the U.S. tax code and noted seven notable leaks against the White House between Jan. 25 and March 1.
“The other issue we’ve got to address tonight is the corporate jihad being waged by NBC News against president Trump,” Mr. Hannity said, Mediaite reported. “Now, as I said earlier, they’re the leaders of this alt-left propaganda, destroy-Trump-at-all-costs media, and now releasing his 2005 tax return. It proves that they will do anything, spin any conspiracy, to destroy the commander in chief, including working with people clearly that have broken the law.”
Ms. Maddow and her guest said the documents showed up in his mailbox this week.
“There must be something hiding in his returns,” Mr. Johnston said.
“Does anybody really believe that a reporter, who nobody ever heard of, ’went to his mailbox’ and found my tax returns? @NBCNews FAKE NEWS!” Mr. Trump early Wednesday.
Does anybody really believe that a reporter, who nobody ever heard of, “went to his mailbox” and found my tax returns? @NBCNews FAKE NEWS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2017
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.