Melania Trump defends her career as a nude model before publication of her memoirs

Former First Lady Melania Trump said in a video posted on social media on Wednesday promoting her upcoming memoir that she “proudly stands behind her work as a nude model.”

The 45-second clip, posted on X (formerly Twitter), begins with a voiceover from Trump defending modeling. She then asks, “Why did the media decide to scrutinize my glorification of the human form in a fashion photo shoot so closely?”

She continued: “Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body?”

The video does not show any model photos of her, but rather well-known nude statues and works of art.

Trump's modeling career dates back to her teenage years. At 16, she was discovered by a Slovenian photographer and a few years later signed with a modeling agency in Milan.

She worked as a model in Paris and Milan for several years before moving to New York in 1996. Over the years she has appeared on the covers of several major magazines, including naked on the cover of GQ in the year 2000.

“We should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful tool for self-expression,” Trump said in the video, which then cuts to an image from her upcoming memoir. MelaniaThe video ends with a link to purchase the book.

The memoir, which Trump's website says “contains stories and images never before released to the public,” is set to be released on October 8. It will cover key moments from her childhood, her meeting with Donald Trump and her time as First Lady.

Newsweek submitted an online contact form to the memoir's publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, requesting a comment.

Trump was born and raised in Slovenia. She began dating the former president in 1998, and they married in 2005. She became a naturalized American citizen the following year.

She has been more active on social media lately, mainly in connection with her memoirs.

Four days ago, Trump released another video promoting her memoir and criticizing the FBI for its 2022 raid on the Trumps' Mar-a-Lago estate in connection with classified documents in her husband's possession.

“I never imagined that the government would invade my privacy here in America,” the former first lady said. “The FBI raided my home in Florida and searched my personal belongings. This is not just my story, it is a warning to all Americans, a reminder that our freedom and our rights must be respected.”

She had previously released a video during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July in which she spoke about the failed assassination attempt on her husband and urged viewers to “bring the truth to light.” The clip ended with the release date of her book.

Updated 9/18/24 1:24 PM ET: This article has been updated with additional context and information. The headline has been updated for clarity.

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