Melania Trump's Publisher Requests $250,000 for CNN Interview

CNN declined a $250K interview fee request for Melania Trump ahead of her memoir release, citing ethical concerns over paid interviews.

on Oct 04, 2024

Recently, CNN approached Melania Trump’s book publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, for an interview with the former first lady ahead of her memoir release. However, the publisher responded with an unexpected request: a $250,000 fee for the interview. This demand was sent in an email along with a "Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreement," which outlined strict conditions for the interview and usage of materials from her upcoming book, titled Melania, set to be released on October 8.

CNN declined to sign the agreement. After a separate inquiry about the hefty fee, Skyhorse Publishing clarified that the payment request was sent mistakenly. Tony Lyons, the publisher’s president, stated, “Neither Melania nor anyone from her team knew anything about the NDA... it reflected an internal miscommunication.” He explained that had CNN agreed to the NDA, they would have discussed the interview specifics with Melania’s team.

Paying for interviews with public figures, especially spouses of political candidates, is typically frowned upon in newsrooms due to ethical guidelines. The high-profile nature of Melania Trump, a former first lady and the spouse of a political candidate, adds to the rarity of such requests. Her spokesperson did not comment, nor did CNN.

Despite the payment miscommunication, it is noteworthy that Melania has received substantial compensation for speaking engagements in the past. For instance, financial disclosures revealed she earned $237,500 for a speaking event in April and $250,000 for another event in December 2022.

The NDA described “Confidential Material” as unpublished content from her manuscript, requiring any CNN staff involved in the interview to sign the agreement. Each breach of the NDA could result in $100,000 in damages. The contract specifically identified the payment as compensation for both the interview and for licensing photos and excerpts from the book.

Experts have commented on the unusual nature of the fee request. Kate Anderson Brower, author of First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies, remarked, “It’s totally unprecedented. No former first lady has ever done that.” Anita McBride, a former assistant to President George W. Bush, noted that while first ladies typically receive fees for book writing, charging for a news interview is uncommon. She stated, “She is her own enterprise when it comes to everything in her life.”

To date, Melania Trump has primarily given interviews to Fox News, where they clarified that no fees were paid for their discussions. Major networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS have declined to comment on whether they received similar payment requests.

As the memoir's release approaches, Melania shared a video on X emphasizing the importance of individual freedom for women, coinciding with reports about her support for abortion rights, as detailed in her book.

Payment for interviews can blur ethical lines, as it may incentivize individuals to alter their narratives. Kelly McBride, Senior Vice President at the Poynter Institute, explained, “Payment incentivizes the subject to alter what they’re saying to make it more valuable to the organization.” Although paying for interviews is not unheard of, especially in scandal-related contexts, it is generally considered unethical in political reporting.