The fallout continues after a report Sunday by The New York Times that shows President Donald Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and allegedly paid no income taxes in 10 out of the last 15 years because he reported losing more money than he earned.

Now CNN has unearthed a 2011 interview with conservative radio host Sean Hannity, in which Trump suggested even low-income Americans should pay taxes in order to be “part of the game.”

The two were discussing criticisms made by Occupy Wall Street protesters’ assertions that the wealthy avoid paying their taxes.

“Now everybody keeps saying down at Occupy Wall Street, the 1 percent — which I’m sure you’re a part of — doesn’t pay any taxes,” Hannity said. “Do you not pay any taxes? I didn’t know that.”

“No, I pay tax,” Trump replied. “I pay a lot of tax. I just signed a big fat check recently for a lot of tax. I paid literally, I paid a lot of tax and you know, look, I don’t mind. I’m proud to pay it up. If I owe it I pay it.

But as noted above, the information provided by The Times suggests otherwise and states:

“Confidential records show that starting in 2010 [Trump] claimed, and received, an income tax refund totaling $72.9 million — all the federal income tax for 2005 through 2008, plus interest.”

“The legitimacy of that refund is at the center of the audit battle that he has long been waging, out of public view, with the I.R.S.”

It would be nice if Trump were as effective at handling the coronavirus pandemic as he allegedly was at manipulating his taxes, but that’s not the case, unfortunately, and according to The Times he played quite the gambit. Over the years, Trump would write a payment to the IRS of more than $1 million at the time he filed an April extension, then turn around and recoup the money later in the year by filing another extension.

According to The Times, Trump was then able to use the initial check to pay down future taxes.

The fact that he even thinks the poorest Americans should pay taxes makes this the height of hypocrisy, but even so, Trump still told Hannity this in that 2011 interview:

“The amazing thing is that half of the country is paying nothing. Zero. And even if you don’t make a lot, you should have to pay something,” he said. “Just something to be a part of the game. Half of the country’s paying nothing.”

Well, considering the fact that many poor people live in red states that support Trump perhaps they should cough up what little money they can manage, I mean since they love Trump so much. Quit spending all that money on Night Train, Jimmy Joe Bob and maybe you can help pay down Trump’s federal income tax shortfall. Just leave the rest of us poor people who never supported Trump out of it.

Here’s what Trump told Hannity in the clip below.

Recording of Trump in 2011 saying everyone should pay taxes and that he paid a lot. In 2011 he paid NO taxes.

https://t.co/kgnoF8UCW1

— 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 (@Sundae_Gurl) September 28, 2020