MSNBC's Rachel Maddow implied on her show Wednesday night that President Donald Trump's tax returns had to be "sterling" in 2005 so that his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, would be granted American citizenship.
Maddow started by pointing out that Melania Trump did have a green card, just not citizenship.
"In 2005, when they got married the year for which this return was filed, Mrs. Trump was not yet a U.S. citizen," Maddow said. "She was the holder of a green card, she could work here legally, but she was not a citizen. She didn't get her citizenship until the following year, in 2006."
Maddow said that the U.S. Customs and Immigration's website points out the importance of tax returns for citizenship eligibility.
"And if you go to the U.S. Customs and Immigration service page about how you should prepare for your citizenship interview, U.S. Customs and Immigration advises you that 'your tax returns are very important proof that you are eligible for naturalization,' meaning proof that you're eligible for becoming a citizen," she said. "'On the day of your interview, bring certified tax returns years for the last five years or three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen.'"
Maddow then said the tax returns would be "used as a very important piece of evidence" to help Melania Trump.
"So, when Melania Trump went for her citizenship interview in 2006, she would have had to bring tax returns, including from this first year when she was married to Donald Trump, and that tax return would be used as a very important piece of evidence as to whether or not she should get citizenship," Maddow said.
Maddow then said the Trumps had to make sure their tax returns were "sterling" to ensure Melania was granted American citizenship.
"So you better believe that the 2005 tax return is going to be sterling, right? That it's going to display excellent citizenship and no red flags whatsoever," she continued.
Maddow said that this was an "unusual" thing.
"So, that's one thing that is unusual about 2005," she said.