Trump Jr. lags behind Pitbull when it comes to UF speaking fees

By now, you’ve probably heard that Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, will speak at the University of Florida tonight at 7 p.m.

It’s definitely the most publicized speech at UF since Richard Spencer, the white nationalist, spoke there two years ago.

But a key difference between the two is that Spencer was never invited. Trump Jr. is not only invited, but the student government’s speaker’s bureau is paying him and Guilfoyle $50,000 to speak.

While that may sound like a lot of money for working stiffs like you and me, it’s actually on the low end of what other speakers have been paid by the student government’s speakers bureau, ACCENT.

Here’s a list of recent speakers and what ACCENT says it has paid them from student fees.

1. Pitbull, former Visit Florida spokesman, rapper.

Miami rapper Pitbull has been named an ambassador for Florida tourism. As part of his new job, he’ll promote the state with #LoveFL at concerts around the world.

October 2018: $130,000. (That’s nothing compared to what Visit Florida, the state’s tourism promotion ageny, paid him.)

2. Kevin O’Leary, Canadian businessman, TV star.

In this Nov. 19, 2017, file photo, Linda O'Leary and Kevin O'Leary arrive at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Linda O'Leary, the wife of "Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary, has been charged with careless operation of a vessel in a fatal boat crash in Canada, authorities said Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. [ JORDAN STRAUSS | Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP ]

March 19: $95,000.

3. Hasan Minhaj, comedian.

Comedian Hasan Minhaj calls on Congress to address the student loan debt crisis. [ J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP ]

April 2019: $78,000.

4. John Kasich, former Ohio governor, Fox News pundit

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican presidential candidate, said he would sign legislation from Ohio Democrats that would require police officers to wear body cameras.

January 2019: $60,000.

5. Aly Raisman, American Olympic gymnast

Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman gives her victim impact statement in Lansing, Mich., during the fourth day of sentencing for former sports doctor Larry Nassar, who pled guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault.

November 2018: $56,000.

6. Jay Pharoah, former SNL performer, comedian

American comedian Jay Pharoah performs a stand-up routine for fans during day three of the Playoff Playlist Live at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa on Sunday, January 8, 2017. [ LEIVA, ANDRES | Tampa Bay Times ]

July 2018: $52,000.

But while $50,000 might seem like a lot to pay for Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle, it’s hardly out of line with what

Of course, there are other costs associated with a speaker. Safety concerns led UF to (mistakenly) pay $302,000 in security fees when Spencer spoke. With protests guaranteed for Trump Jr., security might come into play tonight, as well.

I’ll be there tonight so follow me for any updates.

Hey, @accentspeakers: I have called your office 5x about @DonaldJTrumpJr's visit tomorrow and not once has someone answered. No one returned my voicemail either. I also have posed questions to your chairman via email, but fewer than half have been answered. Why?
— Megan Reeves (@mareevs) October 9, 2019

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