Predictably, President Trump is refusing to release his tax returns in the face of scattered leftist demonstrations across the country demanding he does so. Outside the progressives staging these protests, however, polling indicates most Americans believe he should produce them as well.
There is truth to the argument that Trump managed to win the presidency without releasing his returns. In his own words, “The election is over!” But nowhere on the ballot in November did the question appear, “Should Donald Trump release his tax returns?” Other factors weighed heavier in the minds of millions of voters – for many, that calculation probably involved the prospect of a president who used a private server to hide her communications from the public.
Trump, on the other hand, traveled the country decrying Clinton’s corruption, seemingly “telling it like it is” as a guy with little backing from special interests who would go to Washington and drain the swamp of creatures like his opponent.
Tax returns, ultimately, may not matter for Trump. But transparency will.
If the president wishes to get away with not releasing his tax returns, he’ll need to excel at demonstrating transparency when given other opportunities. Last week’s news that his administration would not make public the White House visitor log was a step in the wrong direction.
There are fair arguments to be made for and against publishing the log, but to the average American watching a campaign advertisement, it looks like obfuscation.
A habitual undermining of transparency will allow Trump’s opponents to depict him in the same way he depicted Hillary Clinton (and President Barack Obama). Trump, better than anyone, understands how powerful that narrative can be. After all, the central question surrounding Clinton’s use of the private server was one of transparency. People want to elect politicians they see as honest and believable.
Breaking precedent on releasing tax returns, on its own, is not enough for Democrats to build a case against Trump’s transparency in 2020. But if he gives them more ammunition, that decision will matter.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
