Donald Trump calls on CNN to donate all GOP debate proceeds to veterans groups

'You should view the second debate broadcast as a public service'

Donald Trump speaks in Birch Run, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

With characteristic cheek, Donald Trump, the tycoon turned presidential candidate, has challenged CNN, the 24-hour news network, to donate all the advertising income it generates during its broadcast later this month of the next Republican presidential debate to veterans groups in the United States.

He made the populist pitch in a letter to Jeff Zucker, the President of CNN Worldwide, saying that he had taken note of soaring advertising rates “announced by numerous entertainment channels and magazines”. He then went on to suggest that the reason for it had everything to do, well, with him.

“While I refuse to brag,” he offered, “and as you know very well, this tremendous increase in viewer interest and advertising is due 100% to “Donald J. Trump”. He went on to cite the huge surge in ratings enjoyed by Fox News when it hosted the first of the series of presidential debates last month.

When CNN plays host for the second debate on 16 September at the Ronald Reagan library in California, it would behoove the network to give the windfall it will likely also receive to Veterans groups, he said.

“You should view the second debate broadcast as a public service and not accept the massive profits that this airing will generate,” he said in the letter dated 8 September and released to reporters today. (Wed). “I believe that all profits from this broadcast should go to various VETERANS groups (sic), a list of which I will send you in the near future.”

There has, as yet, been no public response from CNN, which is owned by Time Warner.