The National Enquirer, known for its sensationalized headlines and salacious stories, has been at the center of a dramatic saga involving attempts to sell the publication for the past five years. The tabloid is back in the spotlight due to its involvement in the hush-money trial of former President Donald J. Trump, with former publisher David Pecker serving as a key witness. Pecker has detailed The Enquirer’s role in the Trump campaign’s efforts to “catch and kill” damaging stories about the former president by paying off sources and squashing negative coverage.
The Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., faced legal repercussions in 2018 when it admitted to making hush-money payments to cover up damaging stories about Trump’s alleged affairs, leading to a fine from the Federal Election Commission for campaign finance violations. The publication’s checkbook journalism tactics were on full display, highlighting the extent of its unethical practices and close ties to the Trump campaign. These revelations further complicated the ongoing efforts to sell The National Enquirer.
Founded in 1926 as a broadsheet, The National Enquirer transformed into a tabloid in the 1950s, known for its sensational content and controversial stories. The publication has a long history of publishing scandalous articles and photos, including shocking celebrity stories and true crime accounts. David Pecker became involved with American Media in 1999, eventually taking on roles as the chairman, president, and chief executive of the company, as well as publisher of The Enquirer, before being pressured to offload the tabloid due to its controversial practices.
Despite several attempts to sell The National Enquirer, including a failed deal with James Cohen in 2019, the tabloid remained in the hands of A360 Media after Pecker’s departure in 2020. In 2023, A360 Media announced a new deal to sell The Enquirer to VVIP Ventures, a joint venture between Vinco Ventures and Icon Publishing, but the agreement fell apart when one of the buyers, Ted Farnsworth, was arrested for violating bond conditions in an unrelated case. Vinco Ventures subsequently collapsed as a company, leaving The National Enquirer once again without a buyer.
As of now, A360 Media still owns The National Enquirer, but the tabloid’s future remains uncertain. The publication’s website makes no mention of its ownership status, and A360 Media has not provided any comments on the situation. The ongoing turmoil surrounding the sale of The Enquirer reflects the tabloid’s controversial history and its entanglement in high-profile legal battles, notably the hush-money trial involving Donald Trump.
