Local

Trump defends attending hotel opening in exclusive ABC interview

WASHINGTON — As the Nov. 8 presidential election continues to draw closer, Republican candidate Donald Trump sat down with "Good Morning America’s" George Stephanopoulos to address critics of his campaign.

Trump got some flak from supporters for taking a break from campaigning Wednesday to attend the opening of his newest hotel in Washington D.C.

Pointing to his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, attending a concert Tuesday night, Trump called the criticism a double standard.

“Well, I think it's so unfair because, you know, Hillary Clinton goes to see an Adele concert last night, and everybody says 'Oh wasn't that nice, isn't that wonderful,'” he said. “I have stopped, I did eight stops yesterday, three major rallies where you know I told you 25 and 15 and 20 thousands of people, I did three plus many other stops.”

Trump touted the new Trump International Hotel as an example of his business prowess, saying it was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

“I built one of the great hotels of the world. What am I supposed to do, not show up?” Trump asked. “I'm taking one hour off, I'm going to North Carolina right after this, then I'm going back down to Florida, I'm going up to New Hampshire. I'm all over the place. But I can't take one hour off to cut a ribbon at a one of the great hotels of the world? I mean, I think I'm entitled to it.”

Stephanopoulos later brought up a front-page article from Wednesday’s Washington Post, which said Trump was not planning to hold any additional fundraisers before election day.

“(Clinton) is definitely going to outspend you in the home stretch,” Stephanopoulos said. “To avoid that, are you willing to write a check to your campaign?”

Trump, a billionaire, said he’s already contributed $61 million to his campaign and expected that number to top $100 million before the election is over.

He then pointed, again, to Clinton, and what he called a “rip off” because she hadn’t contributed any of her own money to her campaign.

“I'm spending a lot of money. And, look, she's spending nothing,” Trump said. “She ripped off the country for $250 million. She spends-- she has no money invested in her campaign. Zero.

“I asked her at one of the debates, I said, ‘Why aren't you putting up ten or 20 or 15 or something million dollars?’ And she didn't respond.”

According to campaign finance filings, Clinton has contributed $1.3 million to her campaign.

Stephanopoulos’ complete interview with Trump will be aired on ABC’s "Good Morning America" at 7 a.m. Thursday.