Melania Trump Raked in $237K for Appearing at a Gay Conservative Event - But Who Wrote the Check?

Questions continue to swirl around the identity of the deep-pocketed source that shelled out a reported $237,500 to Melania Trump for an April appearance at a Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser.

The Daily Beast reported that, "According to Donald Trump's latest financial disclosure form, the former first lady, who has been notably absent from her husband's presidential campaign efforts, was paid to participate in a 'speaking engagement' for the conservative LGBTQ group at Mar-a-Lago in April."

"The disclosure listed the Log Cabin Republicans as the money's source," the Beast said. "But Charles Moran, the organization's president, claimed otherwise, telling CNN that the group did not cut Melania's check."

CNN, in its report on the mystery payment, noted, "Campaign finance and government ethics experts say a payment to a presidential candidate's spouse to appear at political fundraisers in an election is unusual, ethically questionable and should, at the very least, be properly noted in the disclosure forms."

As previously reported, April's lucrative appearance preceded another Melania sighting in July, also at a Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser.

"Ahead of the other fundraiser in July for the conservative LGBTQ group, a person familiar said at least one request was made to a donor about a similar payment," CNN said. "It's unclear whether Melania Trump was ultimately paid. The campaign has not put out the financial disclosure for that period."

CNN added that, according to a "source," "Ric Grenell, former ambassador to Germany and a Trump ally, was the one who made the request on behalf of Melania Trump. Sources said Grenell has also helped the former first lady with other business ventures."

Though Melania has only rarely been spotted on the campaign trail with her husband, reports suggest that she has made something of a cottage industry off her engagements.

"The former first has a history of being paid in political events, having received $155,000 from a Trump-aligned super PAC for a speech she gave in 2021," The Daily Beast recalled. "In 2022, Melania Trump was paid upwards of $250,000 dollars to attend and event for Fix California, a group founded by Ric Grenell."

The Beast quoted former Trump White House press secretary and aide to Melania, Stephanie Grisham, speculating that Melania's philosophy is that she ought to be paid for lending her star power to events.

"She's been so disconnected with this campaign and so absent that I could see her saying, 'If I'm going to put my time in, I will get paid for this,'" Grisham said, according to the Beast. "Even when we were in the White House, she was always so concerned about people making money off of her because she felt it was money she should be earning."

Melania's compensation does not appear to be usual among former first ladies, with the Beast noting that "spokespeople for Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Bill Clinton say they were not paid for any fundraising appearances during a political campaign."