Publisher Demanded $250,000 for CNN Interview with Melania Trump

By William J. Furney

Melania Trump’s book publisher requested a jaw-dropping $250,000 fee in exchange for an interview with the former first lady, CNN has revealed. The network, seeking an interview ahead of the release of Trump’s memoir Melania, was asked to pay the amount as part of a licensing agreement covering both the interview and the use of related materials, including photos and excerpts from the book.

The demand came in a confidentiality agreement sent to CNN by Skyhorse Publishing, which outlined strict terms for the interview. The agreement specified that the network would need to pay $250,000 to proceed, and it also imposed significant restrictions on the use of the material. The document warned that any breach of the terms would result in liquidated damages of $100,000 per violation.

But after CNN raised concerns about the unusual demand, the publisher backtracked, claiming the payment request had been a mistake. “Neither Melania nor anyone from her team knew anything about the NDA, and the document that was sent reflected an internal miscommunication,” said Tony Lyons, president of Skyhorse Publishing, in a statement. He added, “Had CNN signed an NDA, in the normal course of business, we would have approached Melania’s team to discuss [specifics of the interview].”

Despite the publisher’s explanation, the incident has sparked discussions about the ethics of paying for interviews with public figures, particularly political spouses. While it’s not uncommon for media outlets to pay for exclusive materials such as photos or videos, offering cash in exchange for interviews is generally considered a violation of journalistic ethics. The fear is that such payments could compromise the integrity of the interview, encouraging the interviewee to exaggerate or sensationalise their story.

“It’s totally unprecedented. No former first lady has ever done that,” Kate Anderson Brower, author of First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies, told CNN.

Melania Trump, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight since her husband left office, has only given a handful of interviews in recent years, primarily to conservative outlets. Fox News secured an exclusive sit-down with Trump last month, billing it as her first televised interview in two years. A spokesperson for Fox News confirmed, “We did not pay any fee whatsoever for the interviews, including licensing fees for photos.”

The request for payment, even if made in error, points to the complexities surrounding Trump’s memoir rollout and her decision to step back from her husband’s 2024 presidential campaign. While the former first lady is not actively involved in the campaign, she has made select public appearances, including high-paying speaking engagements. Financial disclosures revealed that Melania Trump was paid $237,500 for a speech at a Log Cabin Republicans event in April this year. This follows other payments she received for speaking engagements around the time her husband announced his 2024 run.

As the former first lady gears up for the release of her memoir, on October 8, the flap around the interview fee raises further questions about how Melania, long seen as a somewhat elusive figure, is positioning herself in the public eye — both as a political spouse and as a businesswoman. While CNN declined to pay for the interview, it remains unclear whether other outlets received a similar request from her publisher.

* Image: File.

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