Trump rejects giving Dems tax returns, citing audit

President Trump said Wednesday that he won’t release his tax returns while he’s under audit, setting the stage for a standoff among the White House, the Treasury Department and House Democrats.

“I would love to give them, but I’m not going to do it while I’m under audit,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Texas.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee set a Wednesday deadline for the Treasury Department to turn over six years worth of Trump’s personal and business tax returns.

The agency has given no indication that it will meet that deadline, and Trump has insisted he will not voluntarily give up his returns. He has cited an ongoing audit, the same reason he gave when he broke with years of precedent and declined to release his returns during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump on Wednesday echoed the argument of his allies, who have pushed back against the Democratic request, suggesting the issue was litigated during the 2016 election and "frankly, the people don’t care."

"As you know, I got elected last time with the same issue, and while I’m under audit, I won’t do it," he said. "If I’m not under audit, I would do it. I have no problem with it, but while I’m under audit, I would not give my taxes."

The IRS has said that audits don’t prevent individuals from releasing their own tax information.

Democrats have pressed for the president's returns, arguing they could reveal conflicts of interest or potential legal issues with the president's finances.