Donald Trump Discloses $155,000 Payment to Melania Trump for Speaking Engagement
Former President Donald J. Trump revealed a payment of $155,000 to his wife, Melania Trump, in December 2021. The payment, made by the super PAC “Make America Great Again,” was for a speaking engagement. This transaction was not initially reported in earlier disclosures.
Discrepancies in the Initial Reports
The super PAC’s expenditures from last year did not list Mrs. Trump’s payment. Instead, payments of $125,000 and $30,000 were recorded to the “Designer’s Management Agency” on December 2 and 3, 2021, respectively. These amounts align with what Donald Trump reported.
The FEC Records and Legal Implications
According to Federal Election Commission records, these transactions were categorized under “event planning and consulting.” Federal regulations emphasize the documentation of the initial recipient of the payment rather than the ultimate beneficiary. It is uncommon for a political candidate’s spouse to receive direct payments from related campaigns or groups.
What Was the Money Used For?
The PAC responsible for Mrs. Trump’s payment later transferred $8.9 million to “Make America Great Again Inc.” in 2022. An anonymous representative from the super PAC claimed that Mrs. Trump provided “design consulting” services for a 2021 dinner. She received $125,000 for these services and an additional $30,000 for extra tasks.
Donald Trump’s 2024 financial disclosure initially did not include payments to Mrs. Trump but has been updated. In addition to the PAC payment, Mrs. Trump also received funds from Log Cabin Republicans and Fix California in December 2022.
Previous Payments to Mrs. Trump from Political Committees
This payment is not the first from a Trump-affiliated political committee to Melania Trump. In 2022, the “Save America” PAC paid her stylist $132,000. The committee has been involved in supporting various post-presidency political efforts of Donald Trump.
