Donald Trump uses debate rebuttal time to plug new Washington hotel
![Donald Trump.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dsPGvV4sxJyMqaY8Qe2u5G-594-80.jpg)
During Monday's debate, Donald Trump defended his decision to not pay some contractors who worked for him on different projects.
Hillary Clinton told Trump she has met with dishwashers, painters, glass and marble installers, and other contractors who were "stiffed by you and your businesses." An architect that Clinton said designed the clubhouse for one of Trump's golf courses was in the audience at Hofstra University, and although the man built a "beautiful facility that was immediately put to use," Trump wouldn't pay him.
"Maybe he didn't do a good job and I was unsatisfied with his work," Trump interjected. Clinton said the workers deserved "some kind of apology from someone who has taken their labor, taken the goods they produced, then refused to pay them," adding that she was "relieved" her late father never did business with Trump. Trump responded by saying he does pay contractors and his "obligation right now is to do well for myself, my family, my employees, for my companies, and that's what I do." Trump added that he has plenty of workers who are "unbelievably happy and love me," then used the remainder of his time to plug his new hotel near the White House. "If I don't get there one way," he vowed, "I'll get to Pennsylvania Avenue another."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
What could bring the US Steel-Nippon Steel merger back to life?
Today's Big Question President Trump opposed the deal. But he could be flexible.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Orange juice also is facing a grander existential problem'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 of the scariest spiders in existence
The Explainer These creepy crawlers can be deadly
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published