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+ Virgin Media Broadband Deals + NOW Broadband Deals + All Broadband Providers + Mobile phone deals + SIM Only Deals + iPhone Deals + Best UK Mobile Networks (BUTTON) (BUTTON) (BUTTON) (BUTTON) * UK Edition * US Edition * Asia Edition * Edición en Español {{#items}} * {{#edition}}{{/edition}}{{title}}{{#children}} {{/children}} {{#children}} {{{children}}} {{/children}} {{/items}} Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in NewsWorldAmericasUS politics Trump once claimed to be the ‘king of the tax code’ – but now pleads ignorance ahead of New York case ‘Does anybody know the answer to that stuff?’ Chantal da Silva Wednesday 07 July 2021 20:33 [spinner_on_white.gif] Comments (BUTTON) (BUTTON) Article bookmarked Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile [ ] Don't show me this message again ✕

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a rally on 3 July, 2021 in Sarasota, Florida. Mr Trump appeared to feign ignorance about tax law during the rally.

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a rally on 3 July, 2021 in Sarasota, Florida. Mr Trump appeared to feign ignorance about tax law during the rally. (Getty Images) In the lead-up to the 2016 US election, then-candidate Donald Trump claimed to be the “king of the tax code”. “I know every form of tax – believe me – from the [value-added taxes] to the fair tax to – every single form of tax,” he once said back in August 2015, according to The Washington Post. Around the same time that summer, he said: “Look, nobody knows the tax code better than I do. OK? I know it better. I’m the king of the tax code.” Less than a year later, in March 2016, he would once again claim that he knew “more about taxes than any human being that God ever created”. Fast-forward several years, and the now-former president, whose company, the Trump Organization, is facing charges in a criminal tax case, claims to be clueless when it comes to certain tax rules. Recommended * ‘My God, this is some street-level mobster stuff’: Lawyers on what we know now about the Trump Organization * Five takeaways from the indictments of the Trump Organization and CFO Alan Weisselberg on Thursday * Trump Organization CFO pleads not guilty to 15 felony counts including grand larceny in tax dodge scheme * Trump Organization - Allen Weisselberg indictment: Read the charges in full * Don Jr compares Trump Organization charges to Putin’s persecution of Navalny Speaking at a rally on Saturday in Sarasota, Florida, Mr Trump said: “They go after good, hard-working people for not paying taxes on a company car.” “You didn’t pay tax on the car or a company apartment. You used an apartment, because you need an apartment, because you have to travel too far where your house is. You didn’t pay tax. Or education for your grandchildren. I don’t even know,” he continued. “Do you have to? Does anybody know the answer to that stuff?” Some saw the former president’s comments as a possible admission of sorts, with the company and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, facing a host of tax-related crimes following a years-long probe by New York prosecutors. However, as The Washington Post notes, it could also be possible that Trump could be looking to mount a defence by claiming ignorance about US tax law, particularly if he himself ever faces charges in the ongoing investigation. If his company’s defence team does try to argue that any tax violations made were mistakes, it is possible that Mr Trump’s past comments could come back to haunt him. Speaking with CNN in an interview last week, Mr Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen said he believed “every single thing, whether it was the acquisition of paper clips, light bulbs, furniture, mattresses, you name it ... would have Donald’s signature on it or his initial”. The former Trump attorney said he believed the former president would have likely been aware of the existence of the tax scheme the Trump Organization is accused of having carried out. 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More about Donald TrumpignoranceUSTaxtaxes Join our new commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies [spinner_on_white.gif] Comments 1/1Trump pleads ignorance about tax code after claiming to be an expert (BUTTON) Trump pleads ignorance about tax code after claiming to be an expert Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a rally on 3 July, 2021 in Sarasota, Florida. Mr Trump appeared to feign ignorance about tax law during the rally. Getty Images (BUTTON) (BUTTON) ✕ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. (BUTTON) Subscribe Already subscribed? 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