Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Wednesday sent an open letter to CNN President Jeff Zucker to demand that the profits the network raises from its GOP debate in mid-September are donated to military veterans’ charities.
“[Y]ou should view the second debate broadcast as a public service and not accept the massive profits that this airing will generate,” Trump wrote in a letter he published on social media. “I believe that all profits from this broadcast should go to various veterans groups, a list of which I will send to you in the near future.”
“While I refuse to brag, and as you know very well, this tremendous increase in viewer interest and advertising is due 100 percent to ‘Donald J. Trump,'” he wrote. “This large contribution of many millions of dollars would be a truly wonderful thing for CNN to do.”
Trump did not say he would refuse to show up at the debate if CNN refused his request. However, in a recent interview, Trump floated the idea of asking the network to donate $10 million to charity in exchange for the GOP front-runner’s appearance on stage.
“If I’m in it, they’ll get this crazy audience, and they’re going to make a fortune since they’re selling commercials every time we take a break,” Trump told Time in August. “Would you ever say to them, would you ever say, I want $10 million for AIDS research, for cancer, for this type or not, or is it too cute?”
It was reported last week that CNN is well aware of the ratings boom it’s about to receive, which many attribute to Trump. CNN is reportedly charging companies 40 times more than its normal rates for advertisements during the debate.
But a source at CNN subsequently told the Washington Examiner media desk that Trump’s flirt with soft extortion won’t go anywhere. “We’re not going to be held ransom over TV ratings,” the source said. “That’s silly.”
A spokesperson for CNN did not return a request for comment from the Examiner regarding Trump’s letter.
CNN’s debate is planned for Sept. 16.
