Right-Wing Media: Donate To Donald Trump (And We'll Take A Cut)

Conservative media outlets are trying to cash in on Donald Trump's presidential run through paid email solicitations.

The Washington Post reported, “Newsmax Media has reached out to owners of conservative e-mail lists with a request to help raise money for Trump  -- all while allowing them to keep 30 percent of what's contributed to the candidate.”

The Post wrote that Newsmax sent an email stating the “Trump team is willing to pay 3rd party email list owners like yourself 30 percent of gross donations made to your email list” and “we think this will be highly profitable.” Newsmax said they could provide sample Trump banners, links, and emails, and added that “these are considered paid ads, and don't imply an endorsement on the part of Newsmax or by any third party affiliate like yourself for the Trump campaign.”

The Daily Caller, Dick Morris, Michael Reagan, PJ Media, and Herman Cain have sent paid email fundraising solicitations on behalf of the Trump campaign to their newsletter subscribers, according to a Media Matters search of its newsletter archive. Morris and Reagan state their emails came via Newsmax. The Caller, Cain and PJ Media emails do not mention Newsmax (the Post, which noted Cain's email, said Newsmax wouldn't confirm if Cain sent the Trump email through them). The emails sent by the outlets appear to work off the same “Urgent Letter from Donald Trump” template referenced in the Newsmax solicitation highlighted by the Post. 

An August 10 email sent by Dick Morris, for instance, asked after the Fox News debate: “Trump or Megyn? Show Your Support for Donald.”  A notice at the bottom notes that Morris “is represented exclusively by Newsmax Media.”

Newsmax is also peddling Trump's “Make America Great Again” hat as a bonus for signing up for a trial subscription to its magazine. 

Newsmax is a natural partner for Trump, as it has been a frequent promoter of his political ambitions. 

Breitbart has been accused of accepting financial backing from Trump in exchange for positive coverage, a charge the outlet denies. 

It's not clear why the campaign of a billionaire who has said he's rich enough to self-fund and doesn't “need anybody's money” has to solicit donations. Media Matters has frequently documented how much of the conservative media is trying to cash-in on their followers.