Trump to CNN: Your Profits Are “Due 100% to ‘Donald J. Trump’”

Ticker

Monika Bauerlein,
CEO

Dear Reader,

The next few months are make-or-break for Mother Jones’ fundraising, and we need more online readers to pitch in than have been of late. In "It's Not a Crisis. This Is the New Normal," we take a level-headed look at the brutal economics of journalism, why investigative reporting like you get from us matters, and why we're optimistic we can grow our base of support in a big way—starting with hitting a huge $300,000 goal in just three weeks. Please learn more and donate if you can right now.

The next few months are make-or-break for Mother Jones’ fundraising. We need to raise $300,000 quickly, and we need more online readers to pitch in than have been. Please learn more in "It's Not a Crisis. This Is the New Normal," where we go into the brutal economics of journalism, and what makes Mother Jones unique and worth supporting if you can right now.

<a href=http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/24037500/8577782f8467470ca847918fbbb2cdd8/5/0>Jon Buckle</a>/AP

Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.

Media outlets can’t get enough of Donald Trump—and he knows it.

This morning, the leading GOP candidate tweeted a letter he sent to CNN president Jeff Zucker, claiming that CNN’s ad rates had increased by 4,000 percent due to his influence. Zucker, Trump urged, should consider the broadcast of the second GOP presidential debate on September 16, which CNN will host, a “public service” and donate the profits to veterans groups.

“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,” Trump wrote. “The veterans of our country, our finest people, have been treated horribly by our government and its ‘all talk and no action’ politicians. In fact, some would say they are treated like third class citizens—even worse, in many cases than illegal immigrants.”

Trump’s avid support of veterans is a far cry from his suggestion earlier this summer that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), was not a war hero because he was captured in combat. Trump is now doubling down on his pro-veteran stance after likening his experience at New York Military Academy to formal military training. He foreshadowed the letter to Zucker in Time magazine’s cover story on him last month.

A CNN spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump’s full letter is below. (Click to enlarge.)