Eric Trump, son of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, stumped for his father in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District Thursday.
Trump says his father is poised for a historic win in Maine, and he brushed aside criticism about his father’s refusal to release his tax returns, as other presidential candidates have since the 1970s.
Eric Trump says releasing the returns would be exploited by Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
“I think it would be a distraction, either way. Even if he did release it, then she would, you know, make up some story about his tax return. I think it’s very, very sad,” he says.
Clinton’s campaign has pounced on recent revelations that Donald Trump claimed a nearly $1 billion loss on his 1995 tax returns, which could have allowed him to avoid paying federal income tax for nearly 20 years.
Nearly half a million Maine households paid federal income tax in 2014, according to IRS data.
Eric Trump also says he is unconcerned that some Republicans have been slow to embrace his father’s candidacy. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has said she cannot support Trump. U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin of Maine’s 2nd District has refused to discuss Trump, whether he’s endorsing him or not.
“The problem is, as a nation, we’re too polarized, you know, one side versus the other,” Eric Trump says. “People want the best for this country and that’s why my father is running.”
Eric Trump also said his father is likely to visit Maine for a fourth time in the near future.
