Megyn Kelly: Trump Offered Gifts in Bid to Sway Press

'Clearly meant to shape coverage'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 14, 2016 11:57 AM CST
Megyn Kelly: Trump Offered Gifts in Bid to Sway Press
Megyn Kelly says Donald Trump tried unsuccessfully to give her a free hotel stay in his pattern of trying to influence news coverage.   (Victoria Will)

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 campaign, reports the AP, which got an advance copy of Kelly's new memoir. In Settle for More, Kelly 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 wooed them with praise, she said. "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," she alleges in one chapter, "certain TV hosts" would work with the candidate on occasional Trump criticism so they would appear unbiased. She didn't identify them by name or outlet. Resisting Trump's attempts to buy her was an easy ethical decision, Kelly wrote. Harder was rejecting the ratings bonanza that Trump could deliver with his "unscripted, unguarded" approach that was great TV but the equivalent of "television crack cocaine." (Kelly disagreed with the New York Times review of her book on two key points.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X