No question, clay should have won if the contest was about who was better. This is a contest about who will make trump more money after the show. As trump mentioned several times during the series, he will receive a percentage of money earned by the winner. Pretty obvious who makes more money. Singer with an album of 50 year old songs or late night talk show host? Don't get me wrong, huge clay fan but money talks with trump.

As long as it WASN'T that megalomaniac Aubrey O'Day! Clay raised WAY more money and his party looked like it was better planned and more fun. From what we were shown, the comedians at AH's party were borderline raunchy & offensive.

Clearly Clay Aiken should have won. His team raised almost twice as much money and put on a better benefit performance. Trump pandered to the Hollywood set, just as when he gave it to Joan Rivers who did not deserve it either. Sad for Clay because he certainly deserved it.