Twitter Users With Health Conditions Respond to Trump's $750 Tax Bill

On Sunday, the New York Times published an article revealing what it learned from reviewing two decades of President Donald Trump’s past tax returns, which the newspaper obtained from a credible source. Covering his personal and business tax returns, one of the most talked about aspects of what the Times found centers around how much Trump paid in federal taxes in 2016 and 2017 — $750 each year.

Exclusive: The Times has obtained tax-return data for President Trump extending over more than two decades.
It shows his finances under stress, beset by losses that he aggressively employs to avoid paying taxes and hundreds of millions in debt coming due. https://t.co/gstfYLEe5V

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 27, 2020

The revelation sparked a conversation on Twitter about many of the inequities in the U.S. that allow rich people like Trump (but not just Trump) to pay less on taxes than many average citizens must pay for necessities like rent, food and health care each month. People with health conditions and disabilities took to Twitter to highlight just how expensive health care in the U.S. is by comparing their medical, device and mental health costs to Trump’s $750 federal tax payment.

Here’s what they shared:

I spent more on antidepressants last year than trump paid in taxes

— Christine Vinard (@ChristineVinard) September 28, 2020

($750 is how much I was quoted for health insurance each month when I was unemployed and had no money coming in.)

— Ella Cerón (@ellaceron) September 27, 2020

My wife and I pay $750/month for health insurance — each. And we're happy to have it. Imagine it'll go up dramatically w/out the ACA bc of pre-existing conditions.

— Jenna Lowenstein (@just_jenna) September 27, 2020

When I was in middle school, I had a pair that were $1200.

— Crutches&Spice ♿️ : Rude For A Disabled Person (@Imani_Barbarin) September 28, 2020

An ER visit costs more than $750

— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) September 28, 2020

I paid a LOT more than $750 for treatments associated with my chronic illness & Lupus and 10+ pre-existing conditions in 2017 alone. #TrumpIsNotABillionaire https://t.co/CToVgP5baK

— Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) September 28, 2020

One nausea pill during my cancer treatment cost more than the President paid in federal income taxes during his first year in office.

This is Donald Trump’s America. And together, we're going to change that.

36 days.

— Sima Ladjevardian (@SimaforTX) September 28, 2020

An incomplete list of expenses #NY17 families pay each month that cost more than the $750 Trump paid in taxes:

???? Rent
???????? Child care
???? Health insurance
???? Student loans

As if we needed more evidence that the rich play by a different set of rules than working families.

— Mondaire Jones (@MondaireJones) September 28, 2020

As a single mother, teaching part time so I deal with medical issues, with $40k in hospitalizations in 2016, I paid more than $750 in federal income taxes.

As a single mother, teaching full time, supporting 2 kids, I paid more than $750 in federal taxes in 2017.

Ready to vote.

— Elissa Field (@elissafield) September 28, 2020

Not only do I pay more in income taxes per year than Trump – I also pay more than $750 per month for health insurance and prescriptions. I knew when we learned more about his tax returns it wouldn’t be good, but this is beyond comprehension. #TrumpTaxes

— Melissa K. (@_tweetmelissa) September 28, 2020