Melania Trump’s book publisher reportedly requested hundreds of thousands of dollars from CNN in exchange for an interview with the former first lady, according to a report by the network on Thursday. The request was tied to coverage of her upcoming book Melania, set to be released on October 8.
Skyhorse Publishing, which is overseeing the book’s release, sent CNN a “Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreement” (NDA) that included a highly unusual stipulation: a $250,000 payment for an interview. CNN declined the offer, citing it as an unprecedented demand for an interview with a public figure.
The NDA stated, “CNN shall pay a licensing fee of two hundred fifty thousand dollars,” a sum that raised immediate questions about journalistic ethics and transparency. However, Skyhorse Publishing president Tony Lyons later clarified that the payment request was a mistake and had been sent without the knowledge of Melania Trump or her team. “Had CNN signed an NDA, in the normal course of business, we would have approached Melania’s team to discuss [specifics of the interview],” Lyons said.
CNN reporters Hadas Gold and Pamala Brown, who broke the story, discussed the demand on air Thursday, expressing shock at the unprecedented nature of the request. “Coming from a supposedly professional team, this is completely unprecedented and extremely unusual,” Gold said. Brown added, “Two hundred and fifty thousand is the exact amount she’s been paid for other things. Just putting that out there.”
According to CNN’s report, Melania Trump had previously been paid a similar amount for an April event, as revealed in former President Donald Trump’s recent campaign finance disclosure forms. Fox News, on the other hand, stated it had not paid Melania Trump for her recent interviews.
The NDA included a clause that any breach of the agreement would entitle Melania Trump to a $100,000 liquidated damages fee, with signature lines for Skyhorse president Tony Lyons, Melania Trump’s agent Marc Beckman, and CNN. Even if the contract was sent by mistake, CNN noted that it was an unusual request from the publisher of such a high-profile individual.
Media experts emphasized how rare such a demand is. “It’s totally unprecedented,” said Kate Anderson Brower, author of First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies. Similarly, Anita McBride, director of The Legacies of America’s First Ladies Initiative, pointed out that while first ladies can receive significant fees for writing books, asking for compensation for interviews is highly unusual. “It’s super suspect that a political figure’s spouse would want to be paid for something,” McBride noted.