Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump steered clear of attacking each other’s charitable foundations during their first one-on-one debate Monday night, choosing instead to criticize each other’s policy proposals and failures in business and government.
The two candidates have seen political gold in each other’s charitable foundations, with Trump alleging pay-to-play practices at the Clinton Foundation and the Democratic presidential hopeful’s campaign pouncing on reports that Trump has given less to his own foundation than other benefactors.
Just hours before the debate, Trump faced new questions about instances where he directed companies that owed him money to pay his tax-exempt foundation instead, suggesting he may have tried to avoid paying personal income taxes in the past.
Clinton has simultaneously faced questions about influence-peddling through her foundation, and the access she granted to its donors during her tenure as secretary of state.
But neither Clinton nor Trump used questions about the other’s charitable foundation to launch attacks during their first onstage battle. Trump hit Clinton hard over her flip-flop on supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and criticized her desire to raise taxes. Clinton accused Trump of engaging in “racist behavior” and repeatedly baited him with questions about his business acumen.
Trump immediately accused the moderator, NBC News’ Lester Holt, of not asking Clinton about her private email scandal, charitable foundation or the 2012 attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libay, during which she was at the helm of the State Department.
“Nothing on emails. Nothing on the corrupt Clinton Foundation. And nothing on #Benghazi,” the Republican presidential nominee tweeted within minutes of the debate’s conclusion.
