Melania Trump was generously compensated to give a speech at a campaign event for her husband, Donald Trump, who is once again vying for the presidency of the United States.
According to CNN, the former First Lady received a six-figure sum to take the stage and “convince” American voters—mainly undecided ones—to support the American billionaire who wishes to step back into the White House for a second time.
Throughout Trump’s campaign, the charming former model has generally been absent. However, one of the few times Melania appeared at a political event was concerning the LGBTQ+ community. As noted by the American media, the fact that she received payment was an unusual move for the wife of a presidential candidate.
Who “issued” the checks in Melania Trump’s name?
This year, Melania Trump spoke at two political fundraisers for the Republican Party, CNN reports.
At an event held in April, Melania reportedly received $237,500, with the payment recorded as “speaking engagement.”
Recent revelations about the finances of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump indicate that Melania Trump received money from her husband’s party organization, “Log Cabin,” which advocates for conservative LGBTQ+ individuals, as part of a fundraiser held last April. However, it remains unclear who issued the check in Melania’s name.
Charles Moran, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, stated earlier this month to CNN that his group never paid Melania and also refused to disclose more information.
The other fundraiser took place in July to support the LGBTQ+ community (and other social groups), with a reliable source suggesting that at least one request was made to a donor for a similar payment.
It is still unclear whether Melania Trump ultimately received the significant amount for her speeches.
Morally “questionable” payment to Melania Trump for her campaign speeches
So far, Trump’s campaign team has not publicly released the financial details of the party during this period.
A source told CNN that Rick Grenell, former ambassador to Germany and a Trump ally, was the one who submitted the request on behalf of Melania.
Sources indicated that Grenell has also assisted the former First Lady in other business ventures.
Campaign finance and government ethics experts argue that the payment to the wife of a presidential candidate for appearing at political fundraisers during an election period is unusual, morally questionable, and should at least be documented in official records.
Her memoirs will be released at the end of the month
The reports that Melania Trump received money to deliver a speech at a political fundraiser come just days before the release of her memoir, titled “Melania,” which will be published at the end of September by Skyhorse Publishing.
“Writing these memoirs has been a deeply personal and reflective journey for me,” Mrs. Trump recently stated in a video shared on her social media.
The 48-second clip begins with Melania Trump speaking directly to the camera, followed by scenes from her time as the former First Lady in the White House, including her trip to Africa. It also features moments from her career as a model, as well as times with her son Barron and with Donald Trump, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
“The story of Melania Trump is a story of resilience and independence, highlighting her strength and unwavering commitment to her true self,” the book’s summary states.
