Former President Bill Clinton surprised visitors to Pulse nightclub in Orlando Wednesday afternoon with an unannounced appearance.

  • Former President Bill Clinton visited Pulse nightclub
  • Trip was not announced
  • Clinton wanted to pay his respects to the victims

Clinton's press secretary, Angel Urena, and the Hillary Clinton campaign both confirmed the former president's visit Wednesday but did not say why he was in Orlando in the first place.

Clinton told onlookers he wanted to pay his respects to the victims at the memorial outside the club.

Hillary Clinton herself came to Orlando in July to pay her respects to the victims of the June 12 massacre at the nightclub, where 49 people were killed and dozens more were hurt. She laid flowers at the memorial in front of the club and met with family members, survivors and first responders.

Bill Clinton then went to Atlanta for the Global Initiative for America, where he defended the Clinton Foundation. Clinton said the nonprofit has helped make AIDS drugs more affordable around the world, helped fund infrastructure jobs across the country and aided programs to reduce childhood obesity, among other projects.

"If there's something wrong with creating jobs and saving lives, I don't know what it is," Clinton said.

But the foundation is under fire, along with presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, for seeking influence for donors while Clinton was Secretary of State under President Obama.

The Associated Press said at least 85 people who met or had phone conversations scheduled with Hillary Clinton during her time at the State Department had donated to the Clinton Foundation or pledged commitments.

Hillary Clinton defended the Clinton Foundation Wednesday night, calling the Associated Press report, "a lot of smoke, no fire."

Mr. Clinton earlier this week said if the former secretary of state becomes president, the Clintons will step down from the charity and the charity will stop accepting foreign donations. Some are calling for the Clinton Foundation to be shut down entirely, saying ethics and access issues will become thorny for a Clinton White House.

Information from the Associated Press was used in the report.