Melania Trump Receives Six-Figure Payment for Political Event, Raising Ethical Questions

[Social Media]

 

Melania Trump, who has made few appearances on the campaign trail this year, received a six-figure paycheck for one of her rare political engagements—an unusual move for the spouse of a candidate. According to former President Donald Trump’s latest financial disclosure, Melania was paid $237,500 for speaking at an April fundraiser for the Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative LGBTQ group. The payment was listed as a "speaking engagement," but details about who actually provided the funds remain unclear.

Melania Trump begins her speech last night to the Log Cabin (LBGT+) Republicans at Mar-a-Lago. pic.twitter.com/cB4EvSCVN5

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 21, 2024

 

While Trump's financial disclosure form indicates that the payment came from the Log Cabin Republicans, Charles Moran, the group’s president, denied that they funded her appearance. “The group did not put up the money for her to speak,” Moran told CNN. This discrepancy has raised questions about the actual source of the payment, which was not disclosed on the form.

 

A person familiar with the situation said there was at least one request to a donor for a similar payment ahead of another fundraiser in July, but it remains unclear if Melania Trump was paid for that appearance. The financial disclosure for that period has not been made public yet. The request for the payment was reportedly made by Ric Grenell, a former ambassador to Germany and a close Trump ally, who has assisted Melania Trump with other ventures. Grenell did not respond to requests for comment.

 

Campaign finance and government ethics experts have expressed concerns over the payment. Virginia Canter, chief ethics counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, said, "It seems pretty self-serving. From my own general observation, I’m not used to seeing that." She emphasized that if the Log Cabin Republicans did not make the payment, the source should have been disclosed to ensure transparency. "You 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 added.

 

Supporters of Melania Trump have defended her decision to accept the payment, citing her right to be compensated for her time. One person close to her said she views herself as a "priceless, timeless asset" for Donald Trump, adding, "My best and highest use is where I am." A spokesperson for Melania Trump declined to comment.

 

This is not the first time Melania Trump has been paid for a political appearance. Records show that in December 2022, she received $250,000 for another Log Cabin Republican event, just after her husband announced his bid for reelection. She was also paid $155,000 in 2021 by the Trump-aligned super PAC, Make America Great Again, Again, for a speech in Palm Beach, Florida. 

 

Melania Trump’s decision to charge for campaign-related appearances contrasts sharply with other political spouses. Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton, for example, did not receive payments for fundraising appearances while their spouses were running for office. Despite this, Melania Trump’s supporters argue that her limited presence on the campaign trail justifies her seeking compensation when she does make appearances. "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,’” said Stephanie Grisham, a former White House aide who worked closely with Melania Trump.

 

The fundraising events where Melania Trump appeared were considered successful. At one event in July, held at her New York City penthouse, $1.4 million was raised in a single night. Grenell, who organized the event, described it as the first campaign event ever held at the Trump residence.

 

Based on a report from: CNN 2024-09-26

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

The whole family are grifting.

 

 

[Jingthing]

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The whole family are grifting.

 

 

Yeah now even Barron is in the game.

[stoner]

15 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The whole family are grifting.

 

 

 

soooo politics then. 

[stoner]

Just now, Jingthing said:

Yeah now even Barron is in the game.

 

hopefully he doesn't lose a laptop eh. 

[neeray]

Whenever there is a payment to a Trump family member, it's sure to hold an undesirable smell.

[mushroomdave]

Trump's wives were immigrants:

Proving once again they'll do jobs Americans won't !!

 

Lock him up already !!!!!

[Chomper Higgot]

So I wonder who it was who paid her?

 

We don’t need the full list.

[Presnock]

2 hours ago, mushroomdave said:

Trump's wives were immigrants:

Proving once again they'll do jobs Americans won't !!

 

Lock him up already !!!!!

especially since he claims to be so anti-immigrants...also he claimed that he was outlawing  "chained migration" where the family of a sponsored person also can immigrate legally - (except for convicted felons) at the same time he allowed Melania's parents to immigrate too (father was a convict).  But Trump feels he is above all laws anyway so in his ind he can do no wrong - try to find sometime when he admits to any wrongdoing.

[thesetat2013]

16 minutes ago, Presnock said:

especially since he claims to be so anti-immigrants...also he claimed that he was outlawing  "chained migration" where the family of a sponsored person also can immigrate legally - (except for convicted felons) at the same time he allowed Melania's parents to immigrate too (father was a convict).  But Trump feels he is above all laws anyway so in his ind he can do no wrong - try to find sometime when he admits to any wrongdoing.

Ohh please.. Easy to see this story is only made to create some type of scandal. The story itself says she has taken several other jobs paying less than this one. previously. So it is easy to see this time the Dem news services are trying to make it seem nefarious. And you are falling for it..

[Presnock]

3 minutes ago, thesetat2013 said:

Ohh please.. Easy to see this story is only made to create some type of scandal. The story itself says she has taken several other jobs paying less than this one. previously. So it is easy to see this time the Dem news services are trying to make it seem nefarious. And you are falling for it..

If you truely believe that, find any story about any previously wife of a presidential candidate being  paid to attend a rally.  She is just a gold digger from the gitgo, a paid "escort" for the rich brought into the US and grabbed a real idiot.  I would definitely like to see how much she is being paid just to stay with him now.  She is no better than KH, a toy for the rich politicians.

[gargamon]

The only way they could get Melania to ”appear” like she was supporting her husband's presidential run was to pay her. And all the other stuff she's been saying like they need to look into the first assassination attempt has been to sell her upcoming book, not support the Donald.

[Yagoda]

2 hours ago, neeray said:

Whenever there is a payment to a Trump family member, it's sure to hold an undesirable smell.

Payment to a Trump for anyhting: The scent of corruption

 

Big Guy collecting his tithe for his son selling out our foreign policy:  Shut up, disinfo specialists

2 hours ago, stoner said:

 

hopefully he doesn't lose a laptop eh. 

It will be a Russian plant

[Zab1e]

Don't care much for Melania but Hillary and Michelle Obama receive received high six figures so why the bias? In office out of office whats the difference?
https://www.blackenterprise.com/michelle-obama-recent-speaking-gig-lands-her-a-nearly-750000-bag/

[thesetat2013]

15 minutes ago, Presnock said:

If you truely believe that, find any story about any previously wife of a presidential candidate being  paid to attend a rally.  She is just a gold digger from the gitgo, a paid "escort" for the rich brought into the US and grabbed a real idiot.  I would definitely like to see how much she is being paid just to stay with him now.  She is no better than KH, a toy for the rich politicians.

You should research before posting rubbish..Obamas wife and other Democratic first ladies got paid even more for gigs. Melanie sold herself off cheap for this gig. But getting paid like this would not been turned into a scandal if it was done by a Democratic leaders wife. So it is easy to see this is a ploy by the Dem news service to scandalize Trump. 

[Gsxrnz]

Hands up all those that think people enter politics to make the world a better place? 

 

Only two reasons they become politicians. The desire for power and wealth. 

 

The fact that anybody seeks political power is the very reason they should not be given that power. We'd have better quality world leaders and politicians if they were randomly selected from the phonebook every 4 or 5 years.

[JonnyF]

Worth every penny.

 

Melania is stunning.

 

Especially compared to that weirdo Walz is married to. "Turn the page, turn the page". Yeah we've got in Gwen, you're creeping me out. 

 

[bendejo]

Melania Trump Receives Six-Figure Payment for Political Event, Raising Ethical Questions

 

She'd probably like that headline, thinking that they are saying she has a size 6 figure.

 

[BKKKevin]

This is who your voting for?…  

 

 

[newnative]

Gold digger.  Tramp.  Illegal immigrant.  Stripper.  Grifter.   

[john donson]

speaking? can barely understand what she says and how many decades in USA?

[Presnock]

2 hours ago, thesetat2013 said:

You should research before posting rubbish..Obamas wife and other Democratic first ladies got paid even more for gigs. Melanie sold herself off cheap for this gig. But getting paid like this would not been turned into a scandal if it was done by a Democratic leaders wife. So it is easy to see this is a ploy by the Dem news service to scandalize Trump. 

Well, googling that, the only thing I can find is that Melania has reaped quite a bit of money from the superpacs.  Can you cite one article of proof for the other wives' receipt of campaign funds for rallies?

[Presnock]

27 minutes ago, john donson said:

speaking? can barely understand what she says and how many decades in USA?

But she is now very rich and upon divorce will find a younger more virile hubby or companion.

[Presnock]

2 hours ago, thesetat2013 said:

Ohh please.. Easy to see this story is only made to create some type of scandal. The story itself says she has taken several other jobs paying less than this one. previously. So it is easy to see this time the Dem news services are trying to make it seem nefarious. And you are falling for it..

As others have written in the news, very rare that anyone of a presidential candidates family receive campaign contributions from a superpac...she has done so many times.

[Presnock]

2 hours ago, Zab1e said:

Don't care much for Melania but Hillary and Michelle Obama receive received high six figures so why the bias? In office out of office whats the difference?
https://www.blackenterprise.com/michelle-obama-recent-speaking-gig-lands-her-a-nearly-750000-bag/

Michelle's payment was not when she was a presidential CANDIDATE and not for campaign funds supposedly as Melania...and with Melania even after Trump lost in 2020 she continued to receive money from the superpacs....BTW wasn't originally reported as required but just recently...

[candide]

2 hours ago, Zab1e said:

Don't care much for Melania but Hillary and Michelle Obama receive received high six figures so why the bias? In office out of office whats the difference?
https://www.blackenterprise.com/michelle-obama-recent-speaking-gig-lands-her-a-nearly-750000-bag/

Lol! It was in Germany!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

From t your source:

"The former first lady of the United States was selected to give a one-hour speech at the Bits & Pretzels Founder Festival in Germany on Sept. 25. "

[candide]

I am surprised Trump did not already manage to get paid for campaign-related appearances! 😃

[Yagoda]

13 minutes ago, candide said:

Lol! It was in Germany!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

From t your source:

"The former first lady of the United States was selected to give a one-hour speech at the Bits & Pretzels Founder Festival in Germany on Sept. 25. "

She probably speaks German

[jcmj]

And how many of you have lived in Thailand for decades and can speak it fluently. 

[Presnock]

1 hour ago, candide said:

Lol! It was in Germany!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

From t your source:

"The former first lady of the United States was selected to give a one-hour speech at the Bits & Pretzels Founder Festival in Germany on Sept. 25. "

Long after her husband was out of office and not campaigning.