Fake News: Trump claims Ireland reducing corporation tax

DUBLIN, Ireland - U.S. President Donald Trump began blasting ‘fake news’ from even before he was elected. 

Since his election, however, all media criticism that has come his way has been branded fake news by the controversial president. 

Now, Trump is facing accusations of spreading fake news himself.

He said in a statement on Monday that Ireland was planning to reduce its corporation tax rate to just 8 percent from the current 12.5 percent.

A spokesman for the Department of Finance, however, rejected the suggestion.

He said, “The minister for finance, Paschal Donohoe set out the government’s position on budget day and that is the position.”

Trump’s bizarre remark came after he said he had heard that Ireland was planning on dropping its corporate tax rate.

In a speech at the White House on Monday, Trump said, “You look at other countries, what they’ve done, and we’re competing with other countries, when China is at 15 percent, when, I hear, that Ireland’s going to be reducing their corporate rates down to 8 percent from 12...We can’t be at 35 percent and think we’re going to remain competitive in terms of companies and in terms of jobs.”

Donohoe said in his Budget 2018 speech that Ireland’s position on the corporate tax rate was “clear.”

He added, “The 12.5 percent tax rate is, and will remain, a core part of our offering,” stressing the importance of stability for companies.

Donohoe said, “We have a stable and competitive corporation tax system, which is internationally recognised as one of the most transparent in the world.”