Trump Insists He's Not Sexist In Interview With CBS4
By Shaun Boyd
PUEBLO, Colo. (CBS4) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke to CBS4 in his first interview since a damning New York Times article on his taxes.
The Times reported Sunday that Trump's 1995 tax return shows a loss of more than $900 million, raising questions about his business skills and whether he was able to use those losses, for years, to avoid paying federal income taxes.
At a rally in Pueblo, Trump said the real estate market imploded in the 1990s and he did better than most businesses.
"Companies, jobs and opportunities were lost. Lives were destroyed as tens of thousands of people were put out of work…. I was able to use tax laws of this country and my business acumen to dig out of the real estate mess…. but, I'm working for you now, I'm not working for Trump."
When asked about closing tax loopholes that benefited him, "Absolutely," Trump replied. "I've been talking about this for years. I understand it very well and a person like myself who understands it can do things that are frankly pretty amazing. You would certainly rewrite it for simplification purposes and make it 100 percent fair."
PHOTO GALLERY: Trump In Colorado On Monday
The tax controversy is the latest to rock the Republican nominee's campaign.
He spent last week feuding with a former Ms. Universe who's weight he'd criticized. He insists he's not sexist.
"I have great respect for women. I have such respect for women. I think I'm going to do very well with the women vote when it comes around to it. I think I'm going to do very well. I hope I'm going to do very well. Nobody respects women more than I do."
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton raised Trump's treatment of women in their first debate. He has said he may raise her attempts to discredit women who had affairs with her husband in the next debate.
"I'd like to talk policy. I think policy is much more important so I hope I don't discuss that. We'll see what happens, see how levels of respect are… see how we get treated," he said.
In an ominous sign, Trump had another microphone malfunction at the rally, reminiscent of the last debate.
"I thought that was the Commission on Presidential Debates working… I didn't know they were here," he joked.
Trump tried to put a positive spin on all the negative press, saying "When the chips are down is when I perform the very best."
Shaun Boyd is CBS4's political specialist. She's a veteran reporter with more than 25 years of experience. Follow her on Twitter @cbs4shaun.
