Like a star football player holding out before training camp, Donald Trump said he may demand CNN pay him to be in next presidential debate.
At a campaign rally in Macon, Georgia, Mr. Trump said he pulls in such big ratings that he deserves $5 million from CNN.
“I won’t do the debate unless they pay me 5 million dollars,” said the real-estate tycoon worth billions.
Mr. Trump told his audience at the rally, according to CBS News, that the network was treating him unfairly, over its coverage of his meeting with black pastors earlier in the day. He then queried them whether the network should pay him because the ratings spikes, for which he has frequently taken credit, lets the networks charge more for advertising.
“You have to tell me because I know what they’re going to say,” Mr. Trump said. “’Trump is a chicken’ … One thing I’m not is chicken, OK?”
Mr. Trump, who frequently speaks off the cuff, then said he didn’t know whether “I wanna take the chance.”
Mr. Trump said he would donate the $5 million to veterans.
The next debate, which CNN will sponsor and air live, is set for Dec. 15 in Las Vegas.
In a letter to CNN President Jeff Zucker before the first presidential debate in September, he spoke similarly, saying the network should donate its advertising profits to veterans groups.
“While I refuse to brag, and you know very well, this tremendous increase in viewer interest is due 100% to Donald J. Trump,” he wrote then.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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