Getty CNN denies Trump's demand to donate $5 million, risking debate boycott

CNN will not give in to Donald Trump’s request for the network to donate $5 million to charity to make sure he attends the next GOP debate on Dec. 15.

“We do not pay candidates to appear,” CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker said at a Paley Center for Media event Thursday, according to Variety.


On Monday, at a rally in Georgia, Trump threatened to boycott the event unless CNN donated the money to benefit veterans.

“How about I tell CNN, who doesn’t treat me properly, I’m not gonna do the next debate, OK?” Trump said. “How about we do this for CNN: I won’t do the debate unless they pay me $5 million, all of which money goes to the Wounded Warriors or goes to vets?”

Trump made a similar move in September when he sent a letter to Zucker demanding all profits from the second GOP debate go to veterans charities. CNN never responded, and Trump attended the debate.

It is not clear what Trump will do now that CNN has again denied his demand. “If I say I won’t do it … the people I’m debating will say, 'Oh, he’s chicken,'” Trump said on an interview with conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones on Wednesday.