Donald Trump

Trump, August 2015

Donald Trump, born June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York City, is a real estate mogul and leading Republican nominee for the 2016 Presidential election. Prior to campaigning for the presidency, Trump hosted a television show The Apprentice (later known as The Celebrity Apprentice), and owned parts or the total of several beauty pageants, including Miss Universe. He attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania for a bachelor's of science in economics.[1]

Although he has switched political parties several times throughout his life, even campaigning as a Reform Party candidate in 2000[2], he most recently identifies with the Republican party and has signed an agreement promising not to run as an Independent should he not be chosen as the Republican nominee.[3]

Official Website

2016 Presidential Campaign Wiki

Tax Reform

Trump's Tax Reform (section page) agenda seeks to fulfill four goals: DTW-TR

1. Tax relief for middle-class Americans
2. Simplify the tax code
3. Grow the American economy
4. Don't add to Debt or Deficit

Personal

• An individual filing single that has earned less than $25,000 will not pay any income tax. DTW-TR
• An individual filing head of household that has earned less than $37,500 will not pay any income tax. DTW-TR
• Couple married filing jointly that have earned less than $50,000 will not pay any income tax. DTW-TR
• Eliminate the marriage penalty DTW-TR
• Eliminate Alternative Minimum Tax DTW-TR

Trump Tax Brackets and Rates DTW-TR

Income Tax Rate	Long Term Cap Gains/ Dividends Rate	Single Filers	Married Filers	Heads of Household
0%	0%	$0 - $25,000	$0 - $50,000	$0 - $37,500
10%	0%	$25,001 - $50,000	$50,001 - $100,000	$37,501 - $75,000
20%	15%	$50,001 - $150,000	$100,001 - $300,000	$75,001 - $225,000
25%	20%	$150,001+	$300,001+	$225,001+

Corporate

• Corporate tax rate reduced to 15%, regardless of business size. DTW-TR Current rate hovers ~39.1%[4]
• Companies are required to bring their funds back from overseas accounts and pay a 10% tax on those funds. Funds used for overseas operating activities are exempt. DTW-TR

Funding for Tax Cuts

Trump pledges to propose alternative ways to keep revenue stable whilst reducing taxes. DTW-TR

• Eliminate loopholes and deductions for the very rich. Steepening the curve of the Personal Exemption Phaseout and the Pease Limitation on itemized deductions.DTW-TR
• 10% repatriation tax for corporate funds located overseas. DTW-TR
• End the deferral of taxes on corporate income earned abroad. DTW-TR
• Phase in a "reasonable cap" on the deductibility of business interest expenses. DTW-TR

Jobs and Business Policy

Trump's Jobs and Business Policy (section page):

• “I have created tens of thousands of jobs" (RD3)

• "I'll bring back our jobs from China, from Mexico, from Japan, from so many places. I'll bring back our jobs, and I'll bring back our money." (The International Economy)

• Claimed that the real unemployment rate is 42%(DTI)

• Tariffs on Mexico and China
  • 35% tax on Ford cars made in Mexico and sold in the US (DTS)
    • WSJ states this tax would violate NAFTA treaty. [5]
• Tax Chinese goods by 45% (DTI)

• Increase Infrastructure Spending
  • "The only one to fix the infrastructure of our country is me - roads, airports, bridges. I know how to build, pols only know how to talk!" (DTT)

Health Policy

Trump's Health Policy (section page):

Trump has flipped between pro-choice and pro-life. Now considers himself pro-life. (DTS)

Abortions

• "I support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and urge Congress to pass this bill. A ban on elective abortions after 20 weeks will protect unborn children. We should not be one of seven countries that allows elective abortions after 20 weeks. It goes against our core values." (DTI)

Drug Policy

Trump's Drug Policy (section page):

Trump has stated he does not drink, smoke, or use drugs.(DTI)

Marijuana

• Opposed marijuana legalization (DTS)
• In favor of medical marijuana (DTS)
• Believes in states' rights to decide whether to have marijuana or not (DTS)

Middle East

Trump's Middle East (section page):

On Waterboarding

"I would bring back waterboarding and I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding."(RD-8)

Iraq

• "I was totally against the war in Iraq and I was from the beginning, 2003, 2004 because you're going to destabilize the Middle East and I was right and should be given credit. Because that of everybody running, I'm the one person that said don't do it." (DTI)

Iran

• "If Iran was a stock you should go out and buy it, cause you'll quadruple." (RD1)

• Renegotiate Iran Nuclear Deal - Increase Sanctions & Ask for Prisoners Back
  • "I've never seen something so incompetently negotiated -- and I mean never" - September 2015 Tea Party Rally (DTS)
  • "“I think the deal is horrible,” Mr. Trump told Fox Business Network. “I think the deal is absolutely horrible for us, but it’s really, really bad for Israel.”" (DTI)
  • "The billionaire businessman said American negotiators should have began the process by insisting on getting the prisoners back. He said Iran would have refused, but afterward, “you double and triple up your sanctions” and it would change Iran’s tune."(DTI)

• US Prisoners in Iran
  • Took credit for release of four US prisoners because he's been "hitting [Iran] hard." (DTI)
  • "In Iran deal we get 4 prisoners. They get $150 billion, 7 most wanted and many off watch list. This will create great incentive for others!" - (17 Jan 16) (DTT)

Syria

• "Let Syria and ISIS fight. Why do we care? Let ISIS and Syria fight. And let Russia, they're in Syria already, let them fight ISIS." (DTI)

Iraq

• "I was totally against the war in Iraq and I was from the beginning, 2003, 2004 because you're going to destabilize the Middle East and I was right and should be given credit. Because that of everybody running, I'm the one person that said don't do it." (DTI) [6]

Iran

• Renegotiate Iran Nuclear Deal - Increase Sanctions & Ask for Prisoners Back
  • "I've never seen something so incompetently negotiated -- and I mean never" - September 2015 Tea Party Rally (DTS) [7]
  • "“I think the deal is horrible,” Mr. Trump told Fox Business Network. “I think the deal is absolutely horrible for us, but it’s really, really bad for Israel.”" (DTI) [8]
  • "The billionaire businessman said American negotiators should have began the process by insisting on getting the prisoners back. He said Iran would have refused, but afterward, “you double and triple up your sanctions” and it would change Iran’s tune." (DTI) [9]

• US Prisoners in Iran
  • Took credit for release of four US prisoners because he's been "hitting [Iran] hard." (DTI) [10]
  • "In Iran deal we get 4 prisoners. They get $150 billion, 7 most wanted and many off watch list. This will create great incentive for others!" - (DTT) (17 Jan 16)[11]

Syria

• "Let Syria and ISIS fight. Why do we care? Let ISIS and Syria fight. And let Russia, they're in Syria already, let them fight ISIS." (DTI) [12]

Trade

US-China

• Officially declare China as a currency manipulator (DTW)
  • "Economists estimate the Chinese yuan is undervalued by anywhere from 15% to 40%" (DTW)
• Force China to uphold IP laws. (DTW)
  • "This theft costs the U.S. over $300 billion and millions of jobs each year. " (DTW)
  • US companies will no longer be forced by China to share proprietory technology with Chinese firms (DTW)
• End China’s illegal export subsidies and lax labor and environmental standards (DTW)
• Lower corporate tax rate (to 15%, listed in Tax section) (DTW)
• Bolstering U.S. military presence in East and South China Seas (DTW)

Immigration

FiveThirtyEight did a good job gathering a lot of immigration data mentioned by Trump and then explaining it. Read it here.

• Deport nearly 12 million illegal immigrants. (DTS) [13]
• Illegal Immigrants lead to higher crime in the country. (DTI) (ABC News - Jan 17) [14]
• " You look at your gov -- you look at Baltimore, you look at Ferguson, you look at lot of these places, a lot of these gangs -- and the most vicious -- are illegals. They're out of here. First day, I will send them people -- we. Those guys are out of here." (DTS)
• "Well, it's costing us $130 billion a year and that's peanuts compared to what the real cost is, George, for the way we have it now." (DTI) [15]

US-Mexico

[16]

• Mexico must pay for a wall along US-Mexico border[17]. Until they do, United States will enact the following policy measures (DTW):
  • Impound all remittance payments derived from illegal wages (DTW)
  • Increase fees on all temporary visas issued to Mexican CEOs and diplomats (and if necessary cancel them) (DTW)
  • Increase fees on all border crossing cards – of which we issue about 1 million to Mexican nationals each year (a major source of visa overstays) (DTW)
  • Increase fees on all NAFTA worker visas from Mexico (another major source of overstays) (DTW)
  • Increase fees at ports of entry to the United States from Mexico (Tariffs and foreign aid cuts are also options) (DTW)
• Wall estimated to cost ~$20 billion [18]

• Triple the number of ICE officers (DTW)
• Nationwide e-verify (DTW)
• Mandatory return of all criminal aliens (DTW)
• Defund sanctuary cities (cities not following federal law on immigration) (DTW)
• End birthright citizenship (DTW)

• Increase wage for H-1B Visas (DTW)
  • Trump argues low wages of immigrants for STEM-related careers displace domestic workers and minority workers in STEM fields. (DTW)
  • Require American companies to hire domestic workers first [yes, but how?] (DTW)
    • Trump proposes a waiting period of no new green cards being issued to foreign workers so that American corporations will hire domestic labor. (DTW)
• Reduce funding to refugee programs. (DTW)
  • Spend that money on at-risk inner-city youth instead. (DTW)

Environmental

Global Warming

• "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice" - (DTT) (2014) [19]

Legend

• DTI - Donald Trump Interview
• DTS - Donald Trump Speech
• DTT - Donald Trump Twitter
• DTW - Donald Trump Website
• RD* - Republican Debate Number *