New York Post runs nude pictures of Donald Trump’s wife Melania Trump

The New York Post on Monday ran a front-page picture of potential first lady Melania Trump naked, prompting criticism on the social media and charges of misogyny.

It was the second day in a row that the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid ran a front page nude image of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s wife from her years as a young model. “Menage a Trump,” ran the headline, touting the paper’s “exclusive photos.” The picture shows a nude Melania being hugged by another nude woman as she lies in bed.

On Sunday, the Post ran a front-page picture of a nude Melania, with stars covering her breasts, under the title “The Ogle Office.” The Republican’s presidential campaign appeared to shrug off the pictures. Trump adviser Jason Miller told CNN on Sunday that there was “nothing to be embarrassed about with the pictures — she’s a beautiful woman.” When asked about the photos, Trump told the Post: “Melania was one of the most successful models and she did many photo shoots, including for covers and major magazines. This was a picture taken for a European magazine prior to my knowing Melania. In Europe, pictures like this are very fashionable and common”.

Both sets of photos were taken in 1995 when the 46-year-old Slovenian-born Melania was 25 and working as a model, before she met Trump. The pictures were shot by French photographer Ale de Basseville.

“Melania was super-great and a fantastic personality and she was very kind with me,” De Basseville told the Post, adding the former model never once felt uncomfortable posing for the nude pictures. “I was quite surprised when I saw the pictures because it was a racier shoot than I expected,” said a fashion industry insider who was present for one of the photo sessions. “But Melania seemed very comfortable with the whole thing, and she was very professional,” De Basseville said the photos “show the beauty and the freedom of the woman, and I am very proud of these pictures because they celebrate Melania’s beauty”.

The pictures were published the following year in Max, a now-defunct French magazine. The New York Post endorsed Trump for President in mid-April, describing him at the time as “a potential superstar of vast promise, but making rookie mistakes.” The reaction to the pictures on Twitter was mixed.

“Shame on you #NewYorkPost for slut-shaming Melania Trump. The US needs no more neanderthal input to this already disgraceful election,” read one tweet.

“I am appalled and outraged” by the cover photo, read another tweet, adding: “Misogyny is misogyny.” Some wondered how conservative evangelical Christians would react, while others wondered if Murdoch, who also holds conservative views, had turned against Trump.