Washington
CNN
—
Melania Trump has barely been seen on the marketing campaign path this yr. One of the few instances she has appeared at a political occasion, she’s obtained a six-figure paycheck – a extremely uncommon transfer for the partner of a candidate.
The former first woman spoke at two political fundraisers for the Log Cabin Republicans this yr, and she or he was paid $237,500 for an April occasion, in response to former President Donald Trump’s newest monetary disclosure kind. The payment was listed as a “speaking engagement.”
Trump’s newest disclosure kind stated Melania Trump was paid by the Log Cabin Republicans for the April fundraiser. But it’s a thriller who really lower the test: Charles Moran, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, informed CNN earlier this month the group didn't put up the cash for her to talk, and the disclosure kind didn't give any extra details about the source of the payment.
Ahead of the different fundraiser in July for the conservative LGBTQ group, a individual acquainted stated at least one request was made to a donor about a related payment. It’s unclear whether or not Melania Trump was finally paid. The marketing campaign has not put out the monetary disclosure for that interval. The source informed CNN that Ric Grenell, former ambassador to Germany and a Trump ally, was the one who made the request on behalf of Melania Trump. Sources stated Grenell has additionally helped the former first woman with different enterprise ventures.
Campaign finance and authorities ethics specialists say a payment to a presidential candidate’s partner to look at political fundraisers in an election is uncommon, ethically questionable and may, at the very least, be correctly famous in the disclosure varieties.
“It seems pretty self-serving. From my own general observation, I’m not used to seeing that,” stated Virginia Canter, the chief ethics counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics.
If the group didn't in truth make the payment to Melania Trump, the former president’s monetary disclosure kind might run afoul of ethics guidelines as a result of it ought to have listed the sponsor who paid Melania Trump and never simply the place she spoke, Canter stated.
“You could indicate that payment was for a speaking engagement for the Log Cabin Republicans, but you also need to report who the source of the payment was, otherwise you can’t assess for the conflicts of interest, and it wouldn’t be in compliance with the rules,” she stated. “It should have properly been reported so that the source of the income is listed for the honorarium.”
Sources supportive of Melania Trump who attended the Log Cabin Republican occasions and didn’t know she bought paid for at least one of them defended her, saying it’s her proper to resolve the way to spend her time and to receives a commission for her time. One individual near Melania Trump stated she has determined “my best and highest use is where I am,” including that “she’s a priceless, timeless asset” for Donald Trump.
A spokesperson for Melania Trump declined to remark in response to CNN’s questions.
Records present Melania Trump was additionally paid $250,000 for a Log Cabin Republican occasion in December 2022, one of three funds for $250,000 or extra that she obtained for talking that month, simply after the former president introduced he was operating for reelection, in response to Donald Trump’s prior yr monetary disclosure kind. One of the occasions happened in Florida, and the different was for a California group, Fix California, which was based by Grenell. Grenell didn't reply to a number of requests for remark.
The former first woman was additionally paid $155,000 by a Trump-aligned tremendous PAC – referred to as Make America Great Again, Again – for a speech she gave in Palm Beach, Florida, in December 2021, earlier than Trump was a candidate.
She has a historical past of showing at Log Cabin Republican occasions – in 2021 she was additionally the guest of honor at the group’s annual Spirit of Lincoln Gala.
The fundraising appearances additionally underscore how Melania Trump has been sparingly on the marketing campaign path this yr. In addition to the two Log Cabin Republican appearances, she’s appeared alongside her husband at a fundraiser hosted by billionaire investor John Paulson in Palm Beach and she or he made a temporary appearance at the Republican National Convention, although she didn't communicate like she did in 2016. There’s no indication that she was paid for the appearance at Paulson’s fundraiser.
“She’s been so disconnected with this campaign and so absent that I could see her saying, ‘If I’m going to put my time in, I will get paid for this,’” stated Stephanie Grisham, a former Trump White House press secretary and high aide to Melania Trump who has turn out to be a critic of the former president. “Even when we were in the White House, she was always so concerned about people making money off of her because she felt it was money she should be earning.”
Grisham stated that, whereas in the White House in 2018, Melania Trump instructed her employees to direct a reward store by the White House to cease promoting Melania Trump memorabilia, corresponding to bobbleheads, with out permission.
“She was outraged. She didn’t like they were making money off of her,” Grisham stated.
Donald Trump’s monetary disclosures additionally present that the former first woman earned greater than $330,000 over the previous yr for a licensing settlement for the sale of digital buying and selling playing cards, or NFTs. Her web site sells jewellery and different collectibles.
In addition, the former first woman is releasing a memoir subsequent month and embarking on a promotional tour, which is separate from the marketing campaign. In a sequence of brief movies selling her e-book on X, she’s made uncommon remarks on the tried assassination of her husband in Butler, Pennsylvania, the 2020 election outcomes and her historical past as a nude mannequin.
“I can’t help but wonder, why didn’t law enforcement officials arrest the shooter before the speech?” she stated in one of the videos, referencing the gunman who fired at and wounded Trump at a rally on July 13 earlier than being taken down by the Secret Service.
Melania Trump is just not the solely Trump member of the family to receives a commission whereas in the political highlight. Kimberly Guilfoyle obtained a $60,000 talking charge for introducing her fiancé, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., at the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021, forward of the rebellion at the US Capitol. Her speech was lower than three minutes.
Speaking and appearance charges for occasions outdoors of political fundraisers for former authorities officers are usually not unheard of.
Former President Bill Clinton and former first woman Hillary Clinton collected greater than $153 million in paid speeches from 2001 to the time the former secretary of state launched her 2016 presidential marketing campaign. Former President Barack Obama reportedly made $400,000 from a single speech at a Wall Street well being convention in 2017, attracting criticism from members of his personal celebration at the time. And in the two years after he left the vice presidency and earlier than launching his presidential marketing campaign, Joe and Jill Biden made a mixed $15.6 million, primarily from e-book offers and talking engagements.
But officers for Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Bill Clinton say they didn't receives a commission for any fundraising appearances throughout a political marketing campaign.
The president’s son, Hunter Biden, was scrutinized for promoting items of paintings, every priced at $85,000, at a Manhattan artwork gallery final spring whereas his father was a candidate for reelection.
By all accounts, the Log Cabin Republican fundraisers this yr have been a success. Grenell posted on X in July that the former first woman “opened her NYC Penthouse tonight to raise money” for the group.
“It’s the first campaign event ever held at the Trump residence,” he wrote. “And we raised $1.4 million in one night. Our goal is to get 50% of the gay vote for Donald Trump.”
At the April Mar-a-Lago occasion the place Melania Trump spoke, the group launched its “Road to Victory” program to focus on voters in swing states, in response to Politico.
CNN’s Fredreka Schouten contributed to this report.
Related posts:
