President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE slammed NBC News early Wednesday for releasing two pages of his 2005 tax forms, questioning a reporter's version of how he obtained the documents and calling the network “FAKE NEWS!”

Does anybody really believe that a reporter, who nobody ever heard of, "went to his mailbox" and found my tax returns? @NBCNews FAKE NEWS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2017

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow spent 20 minutes Tuesday evening teasing what questions Trump’s tax returns could answer, including potential ties to Russian banks and to corrupt Azerbaijani businessmen.

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The forms, however, showed that the businessman earned more than $150 million in 2005. The documents also showed that Trump paid millions in federal taxes, following speculation that he had not paid taxes since 1995 after suffering major business losses.

The numbers were confirmed by the White House before the report aired.

David Cay Johnston, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, said on MSNBC that he received the tax forms in his mailbox.

Johnston told Maddow it is “entirely possible that Donald sent this to me.”

“Donald Trump has over the years leaked all sorts of things,” Johnston continued. "Donald has a long history of leaking material about himself when he thinks it’s in his interest.”

Johnston on Wednesday morning fired back at Trump's tweet.

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"Gee, Donald, your White House confirmed my story. POTUS fake Tweet. Sad!" Johnston tweeted.

Gee, Donald, your White House confirmed my story. POTUS fake Tweet. Sad! https://t.co/ibK2ApKI9E — David Cay Johnston (@DavidCayJ) March 15, 2017

The tax forms are in the news at a time when the White House is attempting to push a new healthcare proposal and also address questions about connections between Trump aides and Russia.

Some politicians believe they are an attempt by the White House to distract the public.

"Focus! $880b cut in Medicaid in order to pay for a $880b tax cut for rich. Plus an age tax,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) tweeted.

Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to former President Obama, also suggested healthcare should be the focus.

"Message: tax cuts for the rich paid for by taking health care away from 24M people > tax returns," Pfeiffer tweeted.

Former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) also said, ”Most interesting # in Trump's taxes: 24,000,000. Oh no wait that's just how many Americans will lose health care under his terrible plan."

This report was updated at 7:51 a.m.