A RUSSIAN state media outlet has sparked outrage for airing Melania Trump’s nude photographs on live television as a tribute to her husband winning the 2024 election.
The disparaging display was aired on 60 Minutes on the Russia-1 network, the country’s most-watched television channel, showing pictures of Melania from a photo shoot with the British GQ in 2000.
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The news clip, which was shared on X by Russian Media Monitor creator Julia Davis, begins with anchor Yevgeny Popov saying the former first lady is prepping to return to the White House after Donald Trump‘s election victory.
As Popov speaks, a large television screen behind him and his co-anchor and wife, Olga Skabeeva, shows a clip of Trump and Melania together at one of the president-elect’s rallies.
However, the clip quickly cuts to an image of Melania from her GQ shoot.
“Here’s how Melania looked like in the year 2000,” Popov said as a nude image of the former first lady appeared on the screen.
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Popov goes on to describe each image of Melania in detail.
“The future first lady lies on top of furs in a negligee,” he says.
“Inside the magazine, Melania’s sexy photos near a private airplane and aboard a plane.”
The nude photos of Melania were taken in 2000 onboard Trump’s Boeing 727, the predecessor to Trump Force One.
As Popov continues to go into detail about the images, Skabeeva is seen holding herself from laughing on live television.
The segment ends with clips of Trump and Melania embracing with a kiss on the cheek with the president-elect’s signature campaign song, Y.M.C.A. by the Village People, playing in the background before more explicit photos of Melania are displayed.
The news segment sparked outrage on X, with one writing, “Russia is laughing at us.”
A second raged, “Warning shot fired.”
“[Vladimir] Putin flexing his power over Trump and by extension our country,” another said.
We should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful means of self expression.
Melania Trump
Melania’s nude cover of GQ and the photos resurfaced in 2016 during Trump’s first presidential campaign.
During the 2016 Republican primaries, a Super PAC rolled out a digital ad targeting Trump’s candidacy by posting Melania’s nude.
The ad read, “Meet Melania Trump. Your next first lady. Or, you could support Ted Cruz.”
At the time, Cruz denied any involvement in airing the ad.
In September, Melania posted a video on X where she defended her previous nude modeling work as she promoted her new book.
“Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modeling work? The more pressing question is: Why has the media chosen to scrutinize my celebration of the human form in a fashion photo shoot?” she said in the clip.
“Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body? Throughout history, master artists have revered the human shape, evoking profound emotions and admiration.
“We should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful means of self expression.”
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Melania began modeling as a teenager after a Slovenian photographer discovered her at age 16.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Melania modeled in Paris, Milan, and New York.
During modeling career, Melania met Trump, then a mere New York real estate developer, at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998.
“He wanted my number, but he was with a date, so of course I didn’t give it to him,” Melania recalled in a 2016 interview with Harper’s Bazaar.
“I said, ‘I am not giving you my number; you give me yours, and I will call you.’
“I wanted to see what kind of number he would give me – if it was a business number, ‘What is this? I’m not doing business with you.'”
Instead, Melania recalled that Trump had given her all his numbers, including his Mar-a-Lago office and New York home.
“I was struck by his energy. He has an amazing sense of vitality,” she gushed.
Trump and Melania eventually married in Palm Beach, Florida, in January 2005, less than a year after the future president proposed.