A Russian state television channel has ignited controversy after airing nude photographs of Melania Trump during a segment about her husband’s potential return to the White House. The provocative broadcast occurred on the popular program 60 Minutes, hosted by Yevgeny Popov and Olga Skabeyeva. The segment centered on Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election but took an unexpected turn when the hosts showcased images from Melania Trump’s modeling career, including nude shots from her 2000 GQ magazine spread.
The moment drew attention after Julia Davis, founder of the Russia Media Monitor watchdog group, posted footage of the broadcast on X (formerly Twitter). Davis highlighted the segment’s unusual nature, commenting, “Meanwhile in Russia: this is how the most-watched state TV channel in the country welcomed Melania Trump’s upcoming return to the White House. Olga Skabeyeva is trying not to laugh. This was probably her idea.”
During the segment, Skabeyeva struggled to suppress her amusement while Popov elaborated on Melania Trump’s modeling history. “With Melania Trump’s husband securing victory, she’s preparing to return to the White House,” he said. “Take a look at how she appeared in 2000, gracing the cover of GQ. The future first lady posed atop furs in a negligee. Inside the spread, there are sultry shots by a private jet, and in one, she’s wearing only underwear while lying on a blue carpet with the U.S. seal.”
The broadcast concluded with a montage of photographs accompanied by a voice-over referencing Melania’s previous social media posts. The voice-over asked, “What does ‘my body, my choice’ really mean?” — a nod to a promotional video Melania shared ahead of her autobiography’s release.
Melania Trump began her modeling career as a teenager in Slovenia and later gained international recognition. Discovered at 16 by a local photographer, she signed with an Italian agency, leading to a successful career in Paris, Milan, and New York during the 1990s and early 2000s. Her nude GQ cover in 2000 resurfaced during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, drawing significant media attention. According to GQ’s then-editor Dylan Jones, the cover garnered widespread interest, with Donald Trump even requesting a framed copy for his office.
Melania has consistently defended her modeling work, including nude photoshoots. Last September, she addressed critics in a video posted on X, where she stood by her choices. “Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modeling work?” she asked. “The real question is, why does the media feel the need to critique my celebration of the human form in a fashion shoot?” She likened her work to historical art celebrating the human body and emphasized the importance of artistic expression.
The video ended by promoting her memoir, released on October 8, which promised to share “stories and images never before revealed.”
The Russian broadcast has reignited debates around privacy, public perception, and Melania Trump’s career as she steps back into the spotlight amid her husband’s return to political prominence.
Sources: Newsweek
