Democrats in Congress are adamant about getting a hold of President Donald Trump’s tax returns one way or another, as evidenced by the House Ways and Means Committee issuing a formal request that the IRS hand over six years of personal and business documents. Those closest to Trump don’t seem particularly concerned that the committee will be successful in seizing the returns, however White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders took things to another level by claiming that even if Congress does get Trump’s taxes, they probably, like, won’t even understand them.
Sanders, who no longer holds regular White House press briefings, made the comments on Fox News Sunday when asked by host Chris Wallace whether or not Trump will flat out demand that the IRS not release his taxes. Her response was about par for the course.
“This is a dangerous, dangerous road, and frankly Chris, I don’t think Congress — particularly not this group of congressmen and women — are smart enough to look through the thousands of pages that I would assume that President Trump’s taxes will be.
“My guess is that most of them don’t do their own taxes, and I certainly don’t trust them to look through the decades of success that the president has and determine anything,” she added.
Chris asks @PressSec if the President will tell the IRS not to release his tax returns #FNS pic.twitter.com/RBaVniYMKj
— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) April 14, 2019
The irony that someone holding a high-level position in the White House due to nepotism would question the intelligence of elected officials was nearly too much to bear, as many (including actual members of Congress) pointed out on Twitter.
Our freshman class includes intelligence analysts, nurses, veterans, and – ahem – law professors. I think we can handle it. https://t.co/XORMWW8dEd
— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) April 14, 2019
165 members of Congress have law degrees. 8 have master of law degrees. 16 are medical doctors, 6 are scientists, and 5 are accountants.13 have PhD’s.
Meanwhile, Sarah, what’s the name of that crappy little Bible college where you got your undergraduate degree in communications?
— Brandon H (@brandon_r_horan) April 14, 2019
Let me remind @PressSec that WE have MA in Political Economy, we are doctors, lawyers, former CIA agents, former Mayors, scientists maybe it’s you who wouldn’t be able to explain? Either way using insulting comments are never a good way to begin this or any conversation https://t.co/LODgzdxxyy
— Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@RepDMP) April 14, 2019
.@PressSec Sarah Sanders is a 2004 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. https://t.co/NQUg4Qbba9
— Bad Fox Graphics (@BadFoxGraphics) April 14, 2019
When Sarah Sanders insults our elected representatives, she insults all of us who voted for them. https://t.co/lPctrsAAbz
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) April 14, 2019
remember when it was a national emergency because a comedian made fun of her https://t.co/SF5y1dQpeE
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) April 14, 2019
Has she heard about Katie Porter? https://t.co/bPcE4MyGdJ
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 14, 2019
If you don't want to turn Trump's tax returns over to Congress because you don't think they're smart enough to understand them, why don't you give them to us? We're experts. https://t.co/wGLPCGVN0c
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) April 14, 2019
I wonder if Sarah Sanders has been watching some of the truly outstanding performances by some of our new Members of Congress. I'd love to watch the discussion of Trump's taxes between @presssec and @RepKatiePorter. https://t.co/e2TfYvDQGP
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/PeteSouza/status/1117462425903747074
Simply outrageous. Have we ever had such an embarrassing Press Secretary at the White House? I can't think of one. https://t.co/e2TfYvDQGP
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 14, 2019
You have to wonder if Sanders is familiar with the phrase “famous last words,” because it seems likely that these ones may come back to haunt her in the not-so-distant future.