Melania Trump criticized as her publisher demands $250,000 for CNN interview about her upcoming memoir

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Skyhorse Publishing, the company behind Melania Trump’s upcoming memoir 'Melania', reportedly made a striking request to CNN ahead of the book’s release, asking for $250,000 in exchange for an interview with the former first lady.

The email sent by the publisher also included a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), according to CNN.

CNN’s response and publisher's retraction

CNN, which sent the publisher a request for interviews, received an email last week after several exchanges.

The network said it did not agree to the publisher’s terms. Days later, the president and publisher of Skyhorse, Tony Lyons, issued a statement retracting the request, saying it was a mistake.

“Neither Melania nor anyone from her team knew anything about the NDA, and the document that was sent reflected an internal miscommunication,” Lyons told CNN.

“Had CNN signed an NDA, in the normal course of business, we would have approached Melania’s team to discuss [specifics of the interview],” read the statement, according to The Independent.

Melania Trump's eyebrow-raising request

The request has drawn attention not only because of the staggering fee, but also due to Melania Trump's status as a former first lady and the spouse of a presidential candidate.

It is generally frowned upon for news organizations to pay public figures or officials for interviews, making the proposed $250,000 fee particularly controversial.

Adding to the complexity of the situation was the demand for CNN and any employee involved in the interview to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

The contract reportedly included a $100,000 penalty for each breach of confidentiality.

Skyhorse's explanation and previous paid appearances

While Skyhorse claimed the email was a mistake, the large licensing fee is in line with previous paid appearances by Melania Trump.

Earlier this year, in April, the former first lady was paid $237,500 for a speaking engagement at a Log Cabin Republicans event. She also earned $250,000 for another event with the group in December 2022.

In 2021, Melania Trump received $155,000 from a super political action committee affiliated with her husband, Donald Trump, for a speaking engagement.

These figures suggest that high payments for Melania's appearances have been a pattern.

Internet mocks high payment request from Melania Trump's memoir publisher

After Melania Trump's memoir publisher reportedly made the high payment request to CNN, netizens mocked the former first lady's demand.

One user on X wrote, "That's the same amount she charges Donald Trump for public appearances. That explains why she rarely appears with Donald." Another added, "Well, it is blatantly obvious that everything with her is a transaction, everything."

"Hey, they have to make some money, somehow! No way they can make any money from book sales," a netizen commented. One remarked, "She’s been transactional since she came to this country."

"It’s just so funny that Melania wants to be paid to PROMOTE her book. They are so shameless in their greed," an individual penned. Another opined, "Because the publisher knows they’re not gunna make any money back in book sales."

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