Trump pulls...

Trump pulls punches on Buffett

By Nolan D. McCaskill

Donald Trump shrugged off criticism from Warren Buffett on Tuesday, a day after the billionaire philanthropist challenged the Republican presidential nominee to release his taxes.

“I don’t care much about Warren Buffett,” Trump told Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Company” in a telephone interview.

At a campaign stop with Hillary Clinton in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday, Buffett told supporters they would “learn a whole lot more about Donald Trump if he produces his income tax return.” Trump has said he won’t release his tax returns while he’s under audit. Buffett said he was also under audit but “would be delighted to meet him any time, any place before the election.”

“I'll bring my tax return. He can bring his tax return. Nobody is going to arrest us. There are no rules against showing your tax returns and just let[ting] people ask questions about the items that are on there,” Buffett said. “You’re only afraid if you got something to be afraid about. He's not afraid of the IRS. He's afraid because of you.”

Trump has regarded himself as a counterpuncher throughout his presidential campaign, but the real estate mogul spared Buffett to instead focus on Clinton.

“There’s no counterpunch. You know, I’m not listening to what—” Trump began. “Look, Warren Buffett has been a fan of — he’s a Democrat. He’s been a Hillary fan for a long time, and I think that’s fine. Hillary’s a disaster.”

Trump accused Clinton of lying to Fox News in an interview Sunday, calling her a “liar” who “lies about everything.”

“She lied over the weekend to Fox. I mean, you saw that, to Chris Wallace,” Trump said. “And she lied over the weekend. I’m sitting there listening to that interview and I couldn’t believe it, the way she talked. I mean, you just heard the FBI director say she lied and she said no, she didn’t, he didn’t say that. It was total lie. In fact, even the Washington Post gave her four Pinocchios, which I guess is their ultimate [ruling]. But, you know, she’s a liar. There’s no question about that. She lies about everything.”