What you wished Trump and Clinton got asked: Benghazi, foundations, climate change

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton after the presidential debate at Hofstra University. (David Goldman / Associated Press)

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Donald Trump, second from left, his wife, Melania, third from left, and family members appear onstage after the debate.

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Hillary Clinton and husband Bill after the debate.

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Trump talks with Melania and his son Donald Trump Jr. after the debate.

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Clinton and Trump after the debate.

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Clinton, moderator Lester Holt and Trump.

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Donald Trump.

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Hillary Clinton.

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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton gestures as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump watches during the presidential debate at Hofstra University.

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during Monday night’s debate. (Paul J. Richards / AFP/Getty Images)

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Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton onstage at Hofstra University. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

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Clinton.

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Trump and Clinton onstage.

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Trump and Clinton.

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Clinton and Trump greet each other at the start of the debate.

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Trump and Clinton shake hands before the debate.

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Melania Trump, left, Ivanka Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence wait for the debate to start.

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Debate moderator Lester Holt of NBC.

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s husband and former President Bill Clinton before the presidential debate at Hofstra University.

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Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton arrive for the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

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A Secret Service agent at the debate.

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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie arrives for the debate.

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The audience.

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Boxing promoter Don King poses for a photo before the debate.

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The debate hall at Hofstra University before the event.

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An event program on a seat before the start of the debate.

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New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, arrive for the debate in Hempstead, N.Y.

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Police officers outside the debate hall at Hofstra University.

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Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence sits for an interview shortly before the first presidential debate.

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Seats begin to fill as the start of the debate approaches.

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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will debate tonight at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

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The debate stage.

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The debate hall.

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A woman with a temporary tattoo of the U.S. flag.

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A Hillary Clinton supporter outside the debate hall.

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By Colleen Shalby

Sept. 27, 2016 3:09 PM PT

Moderator Lester Holt warned viewers at the beginning of Monday’s presidential debate that there wouldn’t be enough time to ask Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump every pressing question.

The Times asked readers on Facebook and Twitter what they would have liked to have seen the nominees discuss. Of those questions that went unasked, a clear theme emerged about what was overlooked: accountability for the controversies that have followed the candidates throughout the campaign. Questions about Clinton’s emails and the Benghazi attacks, and her foundation as well as Trump’s, were cited most frequently by readers:

“Nothing on The Clinton Foundation.”

“Trump’s Foundation.”

“No questions about Benghazi.”

“Besides Trump and that brief conversation about [Clinton’s] emails, it was never brought up.”

It’s true that Clinton’s emails did come up once, but no new information was gleaned. Here’s a snippet from that conversation:

Others thought climate policy didn’t get enough attention.

“What about global warming? The only thing that really matters, long-term, and not one single question.”

The brief mention it got was Clinton saying Trump didn’t believe in climate change — a reference to a statement he made in 2012 denouncing global warming as a hoax created “by and for the Chinese.”

Topping off our readers’ list of missed opportunities were the topics of foreign relations and immigration:

“There were no serious, well-framed questions about international policy.”

“Not a word on immigration.”

“Nothing about bringing refugees.”

Trump did briefly mention the border. But neither he nor Clinton were asked to elaborate on their immigration policies, which has been one of the most divisive issues of the presidential race and at the core of Trump’s campaign.

Two more debates, Oct. 9 in St. Louis and Oct. 19 in Las Vegas, remain for the nominees to address these lingering questions.

[email protected]

Twitter: @cshalby

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