Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton attended the inauguration of Donald Trump today. After losing the electoral college vote to Trump in the general election, Clinton posted on Twitter this morning that she was attending the inauguration to “honor our democracy & its enduring values.” She and Bill were joined by two other former presidents and their wives: George W. and Laura Bush and Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
I'm here today to honor our democracy & its enduring values. I will never stop believing in our country & its future. #Inauguration
Later, the Clintons attended the inaugural luncheon where Trump recognized them saying, “There is something that I wanted to say: Because I was very honored – very very honored – when I heard that President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton was coming today. And I think it’s appropriate to say… I’d like you to stand up. Honestly, there’s nothing more I can because I have a lot of respect for those two people.” Everyone in the room gave the Clintons a standing ovation before Trump continued his brief remarks.
Hillary Clinton returned to Washington, DC to attend an event honoring retiring Nevada Senator Harry Reid. A number of people spoke at the event including Clinton. During her speech, Clinton spoke about Reid’s career in the Senate. She also spoke about the dangers of fake news following a shooting that took place following a fake news story. She said, “It’s now clear that so-called fake news can have real-world consequences. This isn’t about politics or partisanship. Lives are at risk, lives of ordinary people just trying to go about their days, to do their jobs, contribute to their communities.” Clinton was also present as Reid’s official portrait was unveiled. Watch a video of Clinton’s remarks below.
Hillary Clinton will deliver remarks to staff and supporters at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, November 9 at the New Yorker Hotel, Grand Ballroom – 481 8th Ave NY NY 10001
The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold published yet another explosive report revealing Trump’s lack of charitable giving, despite his history of making dramatic public promises of donations, and detailing Trump’s misuse of his foundation. Hillary Clinton highlighted the new report in her remarks today at Wilton Manors, saying it was “truly stunning.”
Washington Post: “For as long as he has been rich and famous, Donald Trump has also wanted people to believe he is generous … It was, in large part, a facade. A months-long investigation by The Washington Post has not been able to verify many of Trump’s boasts about his philanthropy.”
Slate: “The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold has spent months going through records and talking to people to try to figure out whether Donald Trump is really as charitable as he claims to be. At this point in the campaign, it should surprise no one that the answer is no... Although Trump, particularly through his foundation, did give some money to charity over the years, much of it was self-serving and the dollar amounts of his contributions were often much less than what he made it seem.”
Today in Wilton Manors, Hillary Clinton highlights Trump’s “charitable giving, or lack thereof.”
“But yesterday the Washington Post published a report that was truly stunning. It starts with the story of a ribbon-cutting back in 1996 for a nursery school serving children living with HIV and AIDS in New York. Now, let me say, this is important in part to remember. This is a story about children with HIV and AIDS. So there was a big celebration honoring the donors who had supported the nursery school, and all the kids and their families, for whom this was the most important thing you can imagine. Because you know, back in the ‘90s, some of you remember. Right? Children weren’t welcomed in school.
And then, unannounced and uninvited, guess who barges in? Donald Trump. He walks right up to the stage. He sat down in the seat that was being saved for a local developer who had made a generous donation. None of the people working for the charity knew why he was there. He wasn’t a donor at all. He had never given a single dollar to help build the school. He just wanted people to think he had. So he sat on the stage through the program, even posed for photographs, and when it was over, he got up and walked out. No explanation. No donation. Now really, who does that? What kind of person does that? Really? I mean, who pretends to help kids with HIV and AIDS in order to make themselves look good? Well, I’ll tell you: The same kind of person who would pull a bait and switch on a high school chess team.
Back in 1997, he was principal for a day at a public school. That was a program we used to have in New York. The chess team was holding a bake sale to raise money to travel to a tournament. They were $5,000 short. He walked up to them and handed them a fake million dollar bill. At first the kids and their parents were excited. Then they were devastated to learn it was a joke. So he gave them 200 bucks and drove away in his limousine. Now, this story does have a happy ending because a woman read the story about Donald Trump’s behavior, called the school, and donated the $5,000. And the coach remembers this woman saying, “I am ashamed to be the same species as this man.”
Just this morning, Kellyanne Conway was pressed on Trump’s false philanthropy and was unable to provide any evidence that Fahrenthold’s reporting was anything other than spot-on.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Tim Kaine mentioned a big story in the Washington Post that found Donald Trump’s personal giving has disappeared entirely in recent years after calling 420 plus charities with connection to trump. The post found one personal gift between 2008 and the spring of 2009. They call into question all of the promises he’s made about giving to charity. Will Trump release his tax returns and show what he’s given?
KELLYANNE CONWAY: Not until our accountants and lawyers say we should.
[…]
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Any contributions to charity over the last several years from the foundation? The Post couldn’t find any and you wouldn’t respond.
KELLYANNE CONWAY: I’m told by those in charge of the Clinton Foundation —
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Trump Foundation.
KELLYANNE CONWAY: Excuse me, yes, George. He’s been incredibly generous with his time and money over the years. He started that foundation with just his money and the only contributor for a number of years.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But nothing over the last five years.
On Thursday evening, presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump shared the stage again, but this time for the annual Al Smith Charity Dinner in New York City. Each of the candidates took time to address the crowd and told several jokes at the other’s expense. Clinton spoke about the importance of Smith’s work and the work his charities have done in between delivering a series of one-liners. She opened her speech saying, “I took a break from my rigorous nap schedule to be here. And as all of you heard, it’s a treat for all of you, because usually I charge a lot for speeches like this.” There was mix of good and bad jokes from both candidates, but it was interesting seeing them in the same room and acting cordial toward each other the day after their bitter final debate. Watch a video of Clinton’s remarks below.
On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton toured the Borinquen Medical Center in Miami, Florida. The area surrounding the clinic is known to have a population of Zika-carrying mosquitoes, and to date, 21 cases of the virus have been reported in the area. Clinton gave brief remarks following her tour in which she called on Congress to pass emergency funding to combat Zika. The funding would be used to continue development of a vaccine and to spray for the disease carrying mosquitoes. A video of Clinton’s remarks is below.
Meanwhile, in Texas, Tim Kaine attended two events on behalf of Hillary for America. In Austin, Kaine attended a fundraiser, then he visited a local HFA office. He spoke to volunteers thanking them for their hard work. Kaine will remain in Texas for a fundraisers in Forth Worth on Wednesday and Dallas on Thursday.
Hillary Clinton Speeches 