CNN’s attempt to secure an interview with Melania Trump ahead of her upcoming memoir was met with an unexpected hurdle—a $250,000 demand from her publisher, Skyhorse Publishing. The document, titled “Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreement,” included strict conditions for the interview, along with the licensing fee.
Although CNN declined the offer, the publisher later backtracked, claiming the payment request was a mistake. Tony Lyons, president of Skyhorse Publishing, clarified that neither Melania Trump nor her team were aware of the NDA or the fee, attributing it to an internal miscommunication.
The $250,000 fee, though described as an error, echoes similar amounts the former First Lady has earned for speaking engagements, such as her $237,500 payment for an April fundraiser for the Log Cabin Republicans, listed as part of Donald Trump’s financial disclosures.
Paying for interviews, particularly involving political figures, is frowned upon in journalistic ethics. Despite the publisher’s claim of miscommunication, such a large price tag for an interview remains highly unusual.
