The AP is reporting that in her new book called “Settle for More,” Megyn Kelly reveals how Trump tried to ‘buy’ favorable treatment from her and other journalists and commentators in the media while running for president.
AP – Megyn Kelly says Donald Trump tried unsuccessfully to give her gifts, including a free stay at one of his hotels, as part of what she called his pattern of trying to influence news coverage of his presidential campaign.
Kelly, host of Fox News Channel’s “The Kelly Report,” said Trump routinely attempted to gain favorable treatment from other journalists and commentators.
“This is actually one of the untold stories of the 2016 campaign: I was not the only journalist to whom Trump offered gifts clearly meant to shape coverage,” Kelly said. He also attempted to woo them with praise, she said, adding, “This is smart, because the media is full of people whose egos need stroking.”
“Trump tried to work the refs, and some of the refs responded,” she said.
When it became obvious that some reporters were “in the tank” for Trump, she alleges in one chapter, “certain TV hosts” would work with the candidate in advance on occasional Trump criticism so they would appear unbiased. She didn’t identify them by name or media outlet.
Resisting Trump’s attempts to buy her goodwill with an offer to comp her “girls’ weekend” stay at his downtown New York City hotel or fly her and her husband to visit his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida was an easy ethical decision, Kelly wrote.
C’mon Kelly name names!
Well, this is what many of us have long suspected about Trump, given the favorable coverage he was getting from the get go and how some commentators refused to criticize him when he really deserved it.
I’m glad Kelly resisted Trump’s wooing as it seems clear others did not.