Not only does Donald Trump want to become the 45th president — he wants to get paid all the way to the White House.
At a campaign speech in Iowa on Tuesday, the GOP frontrunner boasted about the record ratings the first Republican presidential debate brought in for Fox News and how it was “100 percent” because of him.
He then suggested he is “thinking about” charging CNN and Fox News for his appearance going forward.
He speculated aloud about making the request of CNN boss Jeff Zucker. “I should say to Jeff Zucker, a great guy, and say, ‘Jeff, I’m going to do the debate, but I want $10 million dollars for charity…otherwise I’m not going to the debate,” Trump said. “And honestly, I think they’d pay me.”
The real estate mogul wasn’t done yet, next pivoting to Roger Ailes-led Fox News — the network he’s spent the last 24 hours feuding with.
“Then we go to Roger Ailes, who’s a great guy at Fox, and say, ‘Roger, they did so great at CNN, you did so great at Fox, let’s make it 12 [million], 15 [million], 18 [million], all for charity. I’m thinking about it, I am thinking about it.”
He did not mention MSNBC, so maybe he’s giving a friendly discount to his friends at “Morning Joe.”
Fox News and CNN did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment regarding Trump’s proposal.
15 Times Donald Trump Courted Controversy (Photos)
The U.S. Justice Department accused Trump of not renting to minority tenants in 1973.
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Trump was accused of dooming the fledgling U.S. Football League in 1984 when he insisted it go head to head with the NFL with a fall game schedule.
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Trump sparked a feud with Rosie O'Donnell in 2006, calling the comedian "disgusting" and "a slob," among other things
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In September 2010, Trump accused the imam of a proposed mosque near NYC's Ground Zero of using religion to bargain for a better real estate price.
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Joining the dubious "birther" movement, Trump fought to get President Obama to release his long-form birth certificate in April 2011.
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Trump earned the ire of environmentalists when he unveiled plans for a massive golf course in Scotland in July 2012.
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Trump upset gay rights groups when he compared gay marriage to golf in February 2013.
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In August 2013 Trump was the subject of a civil suit for allegedly false promises made to students of his Trump University.
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A new waterfront Chicago skyscraper opened in 2014 despite widespread complaints about the 20-foot-high sign bearing his name.
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Trump began a feud with Russell Brand after seeing the British comedian on a talk show and disliking what he saw.
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Trump minced no words when he tweeted about the "thugs" rioting in Baltimore in April 2015 following the death of an African American man in police custody.
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Announcing his bid for the GOP nomination in June 2015, Trump set off a media firestorm when he called Mexican immigrants criminals and "rapists."
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Trump reportedly paid actors $50 a head to attend his presidential announcement speech in June 2015.
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Billionaire’s recent public image problems are latest in long line of troubles
The U.S. Justice Department accused Trump of not renting to minority tenants in 1973.