The Donald Trump campaign on Tuesday night blasted the Washington Post over the paper’s latest report on the Trump Foundation and how Trump used his charity’s funds for personal matters, but the campaign did not address the specifics of the report.
“In typical Washington Post fashion, they’ve gotten their facts wrong. It is the Clinton Foundation that is set up to make sure the Clintons personally enrich themselves by selling access and trading political favors. The Trump Foundation has no paid board, no management fees, no rent or overhead, and no family members on its payroll,” Trump spokesman Jason Miller said in a statement.
“There was not, and could not be, any intent or motive for the Trump Foundation to make improper payments. All contributions are reported to the IRS, and all Foundation donations are publicly disclosed,” Miller continued. “Mr. Trump is generous both with his money and with his time. He has provided millions of dollars to fund his Foundation and a multitude of other charitable causes.”
The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Trump used a total of $258,000 from his foundation to settle personal legal issues. For example, when Trump was fined in 2006 by the town of Palm Beach over the height of the flag pole at Mar-a-Lago, Trump settled the issue by donating to a charity of the town’s choice. However, Trump wrote a check with funds from his foundation. This follows Washington Post reporting showing that Trump’s Foundation has largely used other people’s money in the past few years.
Responding to the Washington Post report on Tuesday night, the Trump campaign did not address the specific checks highlighted by the Post, and instead tried to turn focus on Hillary Clinton’s family charity.
“The Post’s reporting is peppered with inaccuracies and omissions from a biased reporter who is clearly intent on distracting attention away from the corrupt Clinton Foundation, a vehicle for the Clintons to peddle influence at the expense of the American people,” Miller said in the statement. “Mr. Trump personally and the Trump Foundation, however, are staying focused on their charitable giving to veterans, the police, children and other deserving recipients.”
