Back in the 1990s, Donald Trump was all about making headlines, especially if they were about himself. He loved the limelight, whether it was in the gossip columns or on the magazine covers lining the checkout aisles.
But those were simpler times for Trump, a time of parties and models, long before his foray into US politics, where he found himself needing to quash the very stories he once reveled in.
Enter David Pecker, the former publishing bigwig behind titles like the National Enquirer, who spilled the beans in a Manhattan courtroom about his “catch and kill” strategy to bolster Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
In an undercover meeting back in August 2015, Trump, along with his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, sat down with Pecker to discuss how his publications could boost the campaign. Pecker, now 72, casually recounted in court, “I would run or publish positive stories about Mr. Trump, and I would publish negative stories about his opponents.” He also pledged to keep an eye out for any damaging stories floating around.
Under interrogation, Pecker revealed how he not only pumped out positive stories about Trump but also tipped off Cohen about potentially harmful stories. He anticipated that many women would come forward with stories about Trump, given his reputation as an eligible bachelor, despite being married to Melania since 2005.
Speaking frankly, Pecker admitted to spreading what’s now known as “fake news,” benefiting both himself and Trump by boosting magazine sales with sensational headlines. He disclosed that both sides reaped rewards from these tactics.
He provided insights into the editorial practices of his publications, which prioritized cover stories over content. Trump was always the star, thanks to his pre-politics fame from “The Apprentice” and other endeavors.
During Trump’s initial campaign, Pecker’s outlets ran attention-grabbing headlines, often at the suggestion of Cohen. However, Pecker preferred to keep his dealings with Trump and Cohen discreet, even when it meant killing stories that could have caused a stir, like the one about a doorman at Trump Tower.
Pecker believed that buying and burying such stories served Trump’s interests and his own. He admitted that if the story about Trump fathering a child out of wedlock had been true, it would have been a massive scoop for the National Enquirer, akin to the frenzy following Elvis Presley’s death.
