Donald Trump said during the first presidential debate Monday night that he would release his tax returns when Hillary Clinton releases the 33,000 emails that she deleted during her tenure as secretary of state.
NBC anchor Lester Holt, the debate moderator, told Trump that the IRS has said he is free to release his tax returns while under an audit.
"I get audited almost every year. And in a way, I should be complaining. I’m not even complaining. I don’t mind it," Trump said. "It’s almost become a way of life. I get audited by the IRS, but other people don’t."
Trump then turned the discussion to the missing emails from Clinton’s private server while she was at the State Department.
"I will release my tax returns against my lawyers’ wishes when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted. As soon as she releases them I will release–I will release my tax returns and that’s against–my lawyers, they say don’t do it," Trump said.
The crowd erupted into cheers when Trump said that Clinton should release her 33,000 deleted emails.
Holt then asked Trump whether it was negotiable for Trump to release his tax returns.
"It’s not negotiable, no. Let her release the emails. Why did she delete 30,000–" Trump said.
Holt cut Trump off and told the crowd they needed to be silent during the debate.