In June 2016, former National Enquirer editor in chief Dylan Howard approached David Pecker with information about a Playboy model attempting to sell a story about her alleged year-long romantic relationship with Donald Trump. Pecker revealed that Howard had been contacted by a key source in California regarding this matter.
During the conversation, Howard expressed belief that the relationship between the Playboy model and Trump may have had a sexual component, although he was uncertain about it at the time. This revelation sheds light on the behind-the-scenes discussions and considerations within the media industry surrounding potentially sensitive stories involving public figures.