(CNSNews.com) – At the third and final presidential debate Wednesday in Las Vegas, GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump called on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to give back the millions of dollars the Clinton Foundation gave to countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar that “push gays off buildings” and “kill women.”
“Saudi Arabia given $25 million, Qatar, all of these countries. You talk about women and women's rights? So these are people that push gays off business, off buildings. These are people that kill women and treat women horribly, and yet you take their money. So I'd like to ask you right now why don't you give back the money that you've taken from certain countries that treat certain groups of people so horribly? Why don’t you give back the money?” Trump asked.
“I think it would be a great gesture, because she takes a tremendous amount of money. And you take a look at the people of Haiti. I was in Little Haiti the other day in Florida, and I want to tell you they hate the Clintons because what's happened in Haiti with the Clinton Foundation is a disgrace, and you know it, and they know it, and everybody knows it,” he added.
Fox News’ Chris Wallace asked Clinton about a pledge she made in her 2009 Senate confirmation hearing where she promised “to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest” with dealing with the Clinton Foundation while secretary of state.
“But e-mails show that donors got special access to you, those seeking grants for Haiti relief separately from non-donors and some of those donors got contracts, government contracts, taxpayer money. Can you really say you've kept your pledge to that Senate committee and why isn’t what happened and what went on and between you and the Clinton Foundation? Why isn't it what Mr. Trump calls pay-to-play?” Wallace asked.
“Well, everything I did as secretary of state was in furtherance of our country's interests and our values. The state department has said that. I think that's been proven, but I am happy -- in fact, I'm thrilled to talk about the Clinton Foundation because it is a world renowned charity and I'm so proud of the work that it does. I could talk for the rest of the debate,” Clinton said.
“I know I don't have the time to do that, but just briefly the Clinton Foundation made it possible for 11 million people around the world with HIV AIDS to afford treatment and that's about half of all the people in the world that are getting treatment in partnership with the American health association,” she added.
Trump called the Clinton Foundation “a criminal enterprise.”
“Well, very quickly, we at the Clinton Foundation spend 90%, 90%, of all the money that is donated on behalf of programs for people around the world and in our own country. I’m very proud of that. We have the highest rating from the watchdogs that follow foundations,” said Clinton.
“And I would be happy to compare what we do with the Trump Foundation which took money from other people and bought a six-foot portrait of Donald. I mean, who does that? I mean, it just was astonishing, but when it comes to Haiti, Haiti is the poorest country in our hemisphere. The earthquake and the hurricanes, it has devastated Haiti,” she said.
“Bill and I have been involved in trying to help Haiti for many years. The Clinton Foundation raised $30 million to help Haiti after the catastrophic earthquake and all of the terrible problems the people there had. We've done things to help small businesses, agriculture, and so much else, and we're going to keep working to help Haiti, because it is an important part of the American experience,” Clinton added.
“I don't want you to help them anymore,” said Trump.
“I'd like to mention one thing. Trump Foundation, small foundation. People contribute. I contribute. The money goes, 100%, 100% goes to different charities, including a lot of military. I don’t get anything. I don't buy boats. I don't buy planes,” he said.
“Wasn't some of the money used to settle your lawsuit, sir?” Clinton asked.
“No, we put up the American flag, and that's it. They put up the American flag. We fought for the right in Palm Beach to put up the American flag,” Trump replied.
“There was a penalty that was imposed by Palm Beach county,” Clinton said.
“There was. There was, and by the way, the money went to Fisher House, where they build houses. The money that you're talking about went to Fisher House, where they build houses for veterans and disabled veterans,” Trump said.