'Outrageous and unheard of': Melania Trump's mysterious 6-figure paycheck sparks fury
A mysterious backer paid Melania Trump nearly $240,000 for a rare campaign appearance this year, according to a new report that's spurring outrage on social media.
Former President Donald Trump's wife was paid $237,500 for a "speaking engagement" at a Log Cabin Republican event at Mar-a-Lago in April, according to a CNN analysis of campaign financial disclosure forms.
"It’s a mystery who actually cut the check," CNN reported. "Charles Moran, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, told CNN earlier this month the group did not put up the money for her to speak, and the disclosure form did not give any more information about the source of the payment."
The Florida event for the LGBT conservative group was one of a limited number of campaign appearances by Melania Trump, who notably did not speak at the Republican National Convention in July.
Campaign finance and government ethics experts told CNN it was unusual to see a presidential candidate's spouse appear in this manner.
“It seems pretty self-serving," Virginia Canter, the chief ethics counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, told CNN.
“You could indicate that payment was for a speaking engagement for the Log Cabin Republicans, but you also 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."
A source close to Melania Trump told CNN that the former first lady is a "priceless, timeless asset” for her husband, the Republican presidential nominee.
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But critics of the former president's family took another view on X.
Fred Wellman, host of the podcast "On Democracy," wrote he was angry over the venue and the price tag.
"It's outrageous and unheard of," Wellman wrote. "Almost a quarter of a million dollars to speak IN HER OWN HOME for less than half an hour!"
Political commentator Molly Jong-Fast noted Melania was not the only Trump under the political spotlight for receiving payments.
"Kimberly Guilfoyle received a $60,000 speaking fee for introducing her fiancé, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., at the 'Stop the Steal' rally on January 6, 2021, ahead of the insurrection at the US Capitol," Jong-Fast wrote. "Her speech was less than three minutes."
"Melania was paid $237,000 to speak to a handful of the repulsive Log Cabin Repubs, a gay group opposed to marriage equality," wrote humorist Paul Rudnick. He then joked, "They outbid the Proud Boys, although it's possible Melania thinks it's the same organization."